Moscow is the Russian Federation’s largest city and capital. It is the biggest city in Europe and one of the biggest urban areas worldwide. Moscow is situated on the Moscow River in the central Federal District. The city has a humid continental climate with warm and slightly humid summers and winters that are long and cold with snow. The population of Moscow was 10,382,754 according to the census in 2002. Residents of Moscow are called Muscovites.
The city served as the capital of the former Grand Duchy of Moscow, Russian Empire, Soviet Union, and Tsardom of Russia.
Moscow is the location of the Moscow Kremlin, which is where the President of Russia resides. Moscow is also the site for the Government of Russia and the Russian parliament.
Moscow serves as a chief cultural, economic, educational, financial, political, religious, and transportation center of Russia and the world. Moscow was recognized as the most expensive city for foreign employees worldwide in 2008, for the third consecutive year. Moscow has many educational and scientific institutions and sports facilities.
Moscow has an intricate transportation system with one of the busiest metro systems in the world, 9 railroad terminals, and 3 international airports.
The architecture in Moscow is world-famous. The Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow is acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Shukhoy Tower is currently threatened by destruction. It is number one on UNESCO’s Endangered Buildings list and there is an international campaign to save the building. The Ostankino Tower is the ranked the third in the tallest freestanding structures worldwide and is Eurasia’s tallest freestanding structure. Saint Basil’s Cathedral, the Seven Sisters, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior are also famous sites. Save Europe’s Heritage, Moscow Architecture Preservation Society, and other organizations are trying to prevent the destruction of historic buildings and alert the international public of the situation.
One of Moscow’s famous are museums is the Tretyakov Gallery. The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, the Polytechnical Museum, and the State Historical Museum of Russia are also notable museums in Moscow. Moscow is also the center for the performing arts of Russia with 132 cinemas, 24 concert halls, and 93 cinemas. The Malyi Theatre, Moscow Art Theatre, and the Bolshoi Theatre are popular theatres in the city. The State Central Concert Hall Rossia is famous for estrade and ballet performances. The Moscow International House of Music is famous for its classical music performances. Moscow also has two large circuses, the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and the Moscow State Circus.
Moscow has 96 parks and 18 gardens. The Central Park of Culture and Rest is a famous park that is 170 acres along the bank of the Moskva River. The Neskuchniy Garden is 101 acres and Moscow’s oldest park. Izmaylovsky Park is one the world’s biggest urban parks with 5.92 square miles. It is six times bigger than New York’s Central Park.
On June 30, 1908, an unexplained phenomenon occurred in the early morning skies over the remote Tunguska River Valley of Siberia. What catastrophic event might have occurred that would destroy millions of trees and bring so much devastation to this 800+ square mile remote Tunguskan region? Could it have been a UFO? Was it one of Tesla’s gone-awry energy experiments? Was it a mini-black hole that passed through the earth? A comet? An asteroid? What follows is an exploration of some of the possible explanations for this mysterious Tunguska Event that occurred now one hundred years ago over the Russian skies of Siberia.
Eyewitness reports spoke of seeing a blinding bluish-white light moving downwards and then turning into a billow of black smoke. The light was described as being nearly as bright as the sun. Sounds were heard as if cannons were firing. Knocking sounds were heard as if artillery was being fired. Tremors in the ground were felt. A shock wave knocked people off their feet. A thermal heat wave was experienced as hot wind raced between houses. Tree tops were visualized being snapped off and trees were burned and flattened [1].
As the Tunguska Event occurred, the shock wave was registered on seismic stations across Eurasia. Though the Richter scale was not developed until 1935, it has been estimated that in some places the shock wave would have been equivalent to an earthquake of 5.0 on the Richter scale [1]. The 1966 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records states that if the collision had occurred 4 hours 47 minutes later, due to the rotation of the Earth, it would have completely destroyed the Imperial Russian Capital City of St. Petersburg (Leningrad) [1].
At sunset on that day, northern Europe experienced an eerie light in place of the usual darkness of the night. People could read a newspaper at midnight. Photographs could be taken in the streets. Colors of pink and green and white were reported. Was this nocturnal afterglow the result of some gas leak? Was it comet dust? Comet dust is a viable theory, actually. Comet or meteoric material will detonate on contact with the atmosphere. A spectrogram could show that the celestial glow was pure reflected sunlight. The trajectory of the object could show that it came “out of the sun” and was masked in the early morning daytime sky [2].
Due to the mystery as to the cause of the Tunguska Event, it has become a fertile field for science fiction. According to John Baxter and Thomas Atkins, in their book The Fire Came By [3], the explosion created a “pillar of fire” visible for hundreds of miles. Locals watched it change its course 180 degrees in mid-flight. With all of the compelling evidence, the conclusion reached is that the explosion was a probable nuclear-powered alien starship. A strong selling point for the book was the foreword written by Isaac Asimov, famous science-fiction author, who stated that he found the book fascinating.
In November, 1978 Leonard Nimoy, famous for his role as Spock from the television series Star Trek, hosted a television documentary titled “In Search of the Siberian Fireball” which suggested that a nuclear explosion may have been the cause of the 1908 explosion. Though scientists interviewed at the time supported the comet theory, the alien spaceship theory was definitely a more exciting explanation for the explosion [2].
Rumor has also suggested the possibility that Bigfoot could have been a lone survivor of an alien spaceship that crashed-landed on earth. Had this been the case, the alien intruder would have been abandoned in a hostile environment destined to wander alone awaiting future contact from the lonely skies above. If there was an alien crash, however, no spacecraft fragments have ever been found, unless of course all traces of the ship were vaporized [4].
According to the Tesla Memorial Society of New York [5], the 1908 mysterious explosion in Russia could have been linked to Tesla’s experiments of wireless transmission of electrical energy, though this is admitted as unlikely. Tesla was fascinated with “projected wave energy” processes that would create invisible particles of energy that could beam great distances resulting in electric fireballs, spherical plasmoids or ball lightning. Telsa’s “Death Ray” was described in the New York Times on September 22, 1940 [6]. Is it possible for the Tunguska Event to have been a test firing of one of Tesla’s energy weapons?
Another postulation is that the explosion could have been from a mini-black hole passing through the Earth. This speculation is also unlikely. There is no evidence of the black hole emerging out from the other side, for one thing, and whether or not such small black holes even exist is unknown [4].
According to the Sandia National Laboratories supercomputer simulations in New Mexico, new simulations now show that an asteroid of only 30 meters in diameter exploding above the ground would be transported at speeds faster than sound. At this speed the asteroid would then take the form of a high-temperature jet of expanding gas, called a fireball. Because of the additional energy generated from the fireball, what scientists originally thought was an explosion at the Tunguska site of between 10 and 20 megatons of energy could have in actuality only been three to five megatons [7].
The bad news about the possibility that a supersonic blast wave caused by a relatively small asteroid was the cause of the Tunguska Event, is that smaller asteroids approach the Earth statistically more frequently than larger ones. Sandia’s principal investigator Mark Boslough observes that if such small asteroids will do this kind of destruction, then “we should be making more efforts at detecting the smaller ones than we have till now” [7]. The Tunguska Event of 1908 impacted a remote area over the Tunguska River Valley, but a similar explosion over a more populated area be would in a word, catastrophic.
Now as we fast-forward to one hundred years after the Tunguska Event, we see that the Tunguska River Valley is an oasis of fertile vegetation. New plant life has a growth rate of four times the usual rate. Trees grow larger than their usual size. The entire region is like a Phoenix, rising from the ashes to produce herbs, roots and fruits that have natural nutritional benefits unique to Tunguska. And like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Tunguska Blast is born.
The Middle-East is a part of Afro-Eurasia and is significant for its historical and political context. The history of the middle-eastern countries dates back to ancient times and is the hub of all the major religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The Middle-East generally has a hot and dry climate and is the world’s largest crude oil owner.
The Middle-East is also world renowned for its architectural marvels and rich cultural heritage.
The Middle East travel Guide is the perfect source for you to choose an ideal itinerary and go places!
Dubai has transformed completely from being the tranquil, sleepy town of exotic coral and gypsum courtyard houses, Bedouin fishermen to being a dream city of high-rises and jetsetters. Today it’s a flashy, glossy sun-n-sand city, which offers luxury at its heightened glory.
Hotels in Dubai cater to the high-fliers and are the embodiment of exclusivity. There are several four-star hotels like the Novotel, the Rimal Rotana, Le Meridien Fairway and many more. Each hotel has a distinct style in terms of architecture, ambience and service.
Dubai’s existence can be traced back to 1799. The city has been progressing rapidly and become one of the most important cities in the world. Some of the best hotels in Dubai are situated in the plush hotels of Dubai. The restaurants of Dubai have a wide cuisine for its food connoisseurs.
Some of the renowned eateries in Dubai are hotel Ashiana, Al Qasr, Antique Bazaar, Benjarong and so on.
Dubai is called the shopping capital of the Middle East. The city is abounding with shopping malls and souks. Dubai shopping is a heaven for duty free shopping and the products give value for money. Goods such as cars, haute couture, jewelry, sports equipments, furnishing and much more are all available here. Some of the world-renowned shopping malls include Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall and Burjuman Centre.
The annual Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the major attractions of the city and people flock here from all parts of the world. Dubai shopping is an experience that will be memorable.
There are many things to do in Dubai. The city is full of entertainment hubs and Dubai has a flamboyant nightlife with the choicest bars and bistros. Some of the famous bars in Dubai are Alamo, Atlantis, Carter’s, Century Village and so on.
There are several multiplexes and exhibitions and events like Cityscape and Gitex.
Some of the famous festivals in Dubai include Dubai Desert Classic, which is one of the most popular golf tournaments. The Bride Show features a host of events based on the theme of weddings. The Dubai International Film Festival is also one such festival that has special screenings of international and local cinema.
Dubai festivals are round the clock and there are too many things to do in Dubai and one has to make an itinerary to enjoy most of Dubai.
Qatar has a wide variety of good food and drink. Seafood apart from the traditional food is also very appetizing and consumed on special occasions. A traditionally Qatari breakfast comprises milk, coffee or tea, olives, dates, bread. Cheese, eggs, yoghurt and the more conventional food like the Balaleet, noodles cooked in sugar, cardamom, and cinnamon and served with a fried egg as a garnish. Hummus is very popular and Qataris usually eat Michee, which is a similar food item.
Food in Qatar consists of fish and meat of the spicy type. One of the most popular dishes is Matchboush which is tender meat cooked and served with spices and rice. Om Ali is another popular dessert that suits the taste buds of the Westerners. Qatar has several restaurants that will serve very good food at reasonable rates. Turkish meals are also for cheap.
The culture in Saudi Arabia is rich and the heritage is worth a watch. Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia. English is widely spoken and is used for conversations and business and in schools. Islam is practiced throughout Saudi Arabia. Ramadan is the holy month that includes fasting and no one is allowed eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, gum chewing. At the end of the day, people eat together and break the fast.
There are 36 species in the Felid family of cats. The felids fall into two subfamilies, the saber tooth, now extinct and the feline. The felines can be found in Eurasia, Africa and the Americas.
The felines have common traits. They stalk their prey and attack immobilizing them by breaking their backbone with their powerful neck and jaw muscles. Their teeth are designed to stab, bite and slice and their claws are retractable. They can achieve great speeds with their powerful legs. Their tail can be long or short, their fur is soft and they have excellent hearing and sight. They can be a solid color or spotted and can range in length from a foot to 12 feet including the tail.
Of the Felid family, there is the genus Felis of which there are 23 species. The first species is the European Wildcat, Felis silvestris. It resembles a domestic but it is bigger, has black stripes, larger head and teeth and a rounded tail. The base fur is gray with a reddish, yellowish or blackish hue. It is 4 feet in length. It is an excellent climber and can travel from tree branch to tree branch. It usually hunts alone or in pairs. It likes to feed on small mammals, birds, small deer and fish.
The next species is the African Wildcat, Felis lybica. It is also known as a Libyan or tawny. It is slightly larger than a domestic measuring 30 inches long including a 10 inch tail. It hunts at night and feeds on small mammals, birds and reptiles.
The third species is the Jungle, Felis chaus. It is 30 inches long and weighs 20 pounds. It is gray brown in color with light stripes and a black ringed tail. It usually hunts at night but will come out in the day. It is a very good climber and feeds on birds and small mammals.
The fourth species is the Leopard Cat, Felis bengalensis. It measures 32 inches long and has a soft, thick, reddish fur which is white near the stomach. The fur is covered with round spots or stripes. It lives in hilly areas and is a good climber. It feeds on birds and small mammals.
The Manul or Pallas’, Felis manul, can be found in the steppes of Asia. It is orange-brown with white and black rings around the eyes. The forehead is gray with black spots and the chin is white. It has long , soft hair and the eyes are positioned high in the forehead. It feeds on rodents, partridges and reptiles.
The Serval, Felis serval, lives in the bush country of Africa never very far from water. It measures 5 1/2 feet in length including a short tail. It weighs 34 pounds and has a small head, large ears , slender legs and thick paws. The body has longitudinal rows and broken rings on the paws and tail. It feeds on francolins, small birds, guinea pigs and small antelope.
The Marbled, Felis marmorata, lives in wooded areas. The fur pattern,blackish spots and stripes sit on a yellowish background. It measures 3 feet in length with half being the tail. It hunts at night and feeds on small mammals and birds.
Temminck’s Golden , Felis temminicki, is a 3 foot long wildcat. The fur is a uniform golden-brown with a muzzle of white, gray and black mixture. It feeds on rodents, fawns and birds. The African Golden, Felis aurata, is very similar but smaller.
The Fishing, Felis viverrina, is found near water. It measures 32 inches in length and weighs 17 pounds. Its coat is gray with black spots. It feeds on small mammals and birds.
The Ocelot, Felis pardalis, lives in forests and areas of thick vegetation. Its fur is short and smooth ranging from gray to a yellowish hue. It has gray-black oval shapes with black borders. Its paws and belly are white. It measures 4 1/2 feet in length including a 15 inch tail. It has great climbing ability and likes to sleep in trees during the day. It hunts at night and feeds on agoutis, small deer and opossums. The Margay, Felis wiedii, and the Tiger cat, Felis tigrina, are very similar to the Ocelot but smaller.
The Mountain, Felis jacobita, and Geoffrey’s, Felis geoffroyi, are very similar animals found in South America. Their fur is brownish -gray with darker markings on their sides and rings on their tails. Measuring 30 inches in length, they feed on rodents, birds and small mammals.
The Kodkod, Felis guigna, lives in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. It is only 18 inches long and its fur is grayish-brown with rows of darker spots. The tail has black rings. It lives in woodlands and feeds on small mammals and rodents.
The Jaguarundi, Felis yagouaroundi, or otter cat ranges from southern Texas to South America. Measuring 4 feet in length and weighing 20 pounds, it is long and graceful with short legs. The fur is reddish-brown or gray. With its small ears and nose, it resembles a weasel. It is a good climber and hunts at night feeding on small birds, small mammals, frogs and fish.
The Pampas, Felis colocola, is the size of a domestic with a long tail. It is found in South America. The fur is gray with brown markings. It hunts at night for small birds, rodents and mammals.
The Puma, Felis concolor, also known as the cougar or mountain lion, is the largest member of the genus Felis. It can be found in pine woods, tropical forests, prairies and deserts throughout the Americas. It can reach lengths up to 8 feet and can weigh from 80 t0 260 pounds. The fur is sand-colored with the ears, tail tip and part of the muzzle being black. It is a great hunter and feeds on medium sized hoofed animals like deer but will attack almost anything that comes within its range.
The Dupont Circle is an interesting place to visit if one is interested in cultural tourism. In this vibrant, cosmopolitan neighborhood, you will find some of the city’s finest museums and historic homes as well as an array of ethnic restaurants, unique bookstores, and Washington’s largest concentration of private art galleries.
The Dupont circle area was a rural backwater until after the American Civil War, when it first became a fashionable residential neighborhood, when some of Washington’s wealthiest residents constructed houses here in the late 19th and early 20th century. It left a legacy of two types of housing in this historic district. Many of the grid streets are lined with rowhouses built before the end of the 19th century, sometimes variations on the Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque revival architectural styles. Rarer are the palatial mansions and large freestanding houses that line the broad, tree-lined diagonal avenues that intersect the circle.
The allure of Dupont circle lies primarily in its architecture. This is evidenced by it being listed on the US National Register of Historical Places. Today Dupont circle is the home to a number of embassies and in addition to its residential components which comprises of a number of up market condominiums, it is also home to a number of renowned American think tanks.
The Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Eurasia Center, and the Peterson Institute are all located in the Dupont circle. The renowned Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of The Johns Hopkins University is also located less than two blocks from the circle. It is also home to the Founding Church of Scientology. The Phillips Collection, USA’s first museum of modern art, is also located near the circle; its most famous and popular work on display is Renoir’s giant festive canvas Luncheon of the Boating Party.
Dupont Circle also hosts Capital Pride; an annual Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender pride festival held each June in Washington. In 2007, the festival was the fourth-largest gay pride event in the United States, with more than 200,000 people in attendance.
Morocco has a history as substantial as any in Africa, Eurasia, or the Americas. In some parts of the world when man was first learning that stone made better tools than twigs, the Moroccan mountains and interior was populated with Libyan and Ethiopian settlers named Barbaroi. Not too long later, Phoenician trading posts flourished in the ports of Chellah (Rabat) and Tingis (Tangier). Morocco has a expansive history that should not be neglected.
In timeworn days, the Sahara Desert ran riot with flora and fauna and hunter-gatherers. These first humans were among the earliest of Morocco’s ancestors. Archeologists have shown, too, that at around the time of the Stone Age, Morocco became flushed with humankind from lands as far off as Egypt, Algeria and Libya.
These earliest settlers-now the Berbers-interrupted any attempt at taking over Morocco’s interior. When the Romans came quite a few years later, the Moroccan Berbers astonishingly withstood this occupation. Though the Romans took a great part of Morocco’s exterior, the Rif Mountains and High Atlas Mountains were untouched for centuries. Later, too, when the Vandals and Byzantine forces clasped Morocco as their own, the interior-the Berbers in the High Atlas Mountains-remained unified and indomitable.
The Moroccan Berbers were not Islamic, either when Islam reached Tunisia around 650 AD, or when it reached the Moroccan plains by Moussa Ibn Nasr. Many more Moroccans-formerly Christians and Jews-converted to Islam before it unified the country-and the Berbers with it-to the vast religion of Islam today. With the reign of Moulay Idriss II, Arab dominance ruled much of Morocco. With the creation of Fez as an influential city, meandering with trade routes and the noted Kairaouine University, Arab influence became unstoppable.
The dynasties that controlled Morocco came and went. From the Almoravids, Almohads, Merenids to the Wattasids, Saadians, and the Alaouites, Morocco’s sovereignty saw countless hills and valleys. The country passed from one ruling force to the next. Even in the 20th century, power struggles seemed to be the norm.
The French colonized Morocco in the early 1900s. With a similar model used elsewhere-even in Tunisia and Algeria-France’s hegemony flourished, though they shared several parts of the country close to the Atlantic and Mediterranean with Spain. Smartly, France granted a sort of independence to (some) mountain Berber leaders and their tribes. Rabat and Casablanca were turned into French-style administrative capitals. Through time, world war and several internal and international tensions, in 1956 Sidi Mohammed became king of Morocco. Spain, to this day, still controls Sebta and Mellila on the Mediterranean coast.
Today, Morocco shares some exceptional relations with the rest of the world. The newest ruler, King Mohammed VI, upholds various friendships and alliances with both the Arab and Western spheres. Though the Western Sahara is still of questionable concerns, the present king addresses relevant concerns which will optimistically help Morocco enter into the modern world as contenders in the world economy and market.
Morocco tours and Morocco tourism is booming. Since tourist’s numbers are on the rise, the country will soon undergo inevitable (perhaps more western) change. Morocco should be visited sooner rather than later to better understand the old tradition mixing with new ways of thinking and doing.
Educational grants help students complete higher education programs of their choice. The number of American students studying abroad increased by 8% in the 2006/07 academic year, according to an Open Doors report published by the Institute of International Education. National security has become a subject which many American students want to study about. Students look for non-traditional destinations when studying abroad. The Boren scholarships have been providing student grants up to $20,000 to study abroad.
Funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), the focus is on geographical area, language, and education which would be critical to national security. Educational grants are given to study world regions including Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Eurasia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Aim of The Study: The applicant must identify how their study program, future academic and career goals will contribute to U.S. national security. Issues that have been identified are sustainable development, global disease and hunger, economic competitiveness, environmental degradation, and population growth and migration. The grants encourage U.S. students to study foreign languages, research and pursue academic internships.
Eligibility: American undergraduate students can apply to study in countries critical to the future security of the country in exchange of commitment to seek work in the federal government. Study Details: The maximum awards are $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full academic year. Encouragement is offered to apply for two or more semesters and preference for these educational grants is given to undergraduate applicants applying for full-year academic study. Summer-only programs, over eight weeks are considered for students of science, technology, mathematic, and engineering.
How to Apply: Applications can be submitted online and dates are mentioned on their website www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship/how_apply.html. For example, the national application deadline in 2009 was February 11. You need to fill in a form and submit it with letters of reference and official transcripts from school, college and university attended. Consulting with Boren campus representatives about deadlines and other requirements is crucial to your success. A description of the program has to be attached with cost details. This is important as it is the justification you submit for educational grants for studying abroad. Include the region you selected, its culture, and language. The materials could also be sent to the institution.
Orientation is provided to those who get these scholarships. It is important to know much more about our own country, about staying in the country you selected, and other details. This is provided in their orientation manual. Successful applicants have completed programs in various places. Some have opted for political science in Japan, others for communications in Egypt. Many have opted for two semester-long programs. These educational grants are guided by a mission to educate U.S. citizens understand foreign cultures and enhance international cooperation and security.
A Guide on Planning a European Vacation
Ah, the magic of Ireland. The history of London. The highlands of Scotland. You’ve heard of them for years, seen them in the tourist commercials, and heard about them in the music. Yet you have never yet visited these dreams. And why not?
It’s too expensive, you say. I could never afford a trip to Europe.
Less expensive than a week at Disneyworld, I say! For a two week Ireland vacation in summer (2006), including airfare, rental car, B&B accommodation and trip insurance, I spent about $1600. Yes, that’s it. Now, that doesn’t include food or souvenirs, of course, but it did include a wonderful vacation to a magical place.
So, how do you get such a deal? Well, it takes patience, research, and the ability to make decisions when you need to. I will take you through, step-by-step, how to get the best deal for a European vacation.
DECISIONS: Who, What, Where, When and Why
WHO’s going? You? Your spouse? Your children or parents? Your best friend? A huge group of 20 friends (not recommended unless you want ulcers!) This decision makes a big difference in accommodation and transportation choices.
WHAT to do? Are you interested in touring the whisky distilleries in Scotland? Or the abbeys in England? Or the pubs in Ireland? Your trip doesn’t have to have a theme, of course, but it is more fun if you have one – and helps you to plan when your mind is a blank. Perhaps you’ve seen a movie or read a book set in Yorkshire, and want to tour the area? Or you dance and want to learn step dancing in Ireland? The imagination can take flight here!
WHERE to go, of course, depends on WHAT you are doing. It also ties into WHEN you want to go. Since my most recent trip was Ireland, I will use that as an example, but most of my advice can be applied to any destination in Europe, or even beyond. The decision of WHEN to go will be tied into the destination. For instance, Ireland is much nicer to visit in the summer – but also more expensive; whereas Greece is cooler as a winter destination. The days are longer in the summer the farther you go north – and conversely, shorter in the winter, resulting in much shorter days for sightseeing.
Another part of WHERE includes the character of place – towns and villages, or bustling metropolis? London or Kilkenny? Edinburgh or Ullapool? While each city has its own character, they can be overwhelming at times, and aren’t always the best places to stay. A small village used as a base of exploration can be wonderful, and you get more chances to meet the locals.
You might also want to think about WHY you want to go. Do you want to touch the roots of your ancestors? Or experience an ancient culture? Do you just want to get away from the screaming kids? Or make your co-workers jealous? There are many reasons WHY you may want to go to Europe – pick several!
RESEARCH: Find out everything about everything – then throw half of it away
The internet is many things. Addicting, yes; maddening, yes. But it is also incredibly helpful when doing research, especially about places far from your home. Airfare, hotels, cities, beautiful beaches (yes, they exist in the UK) and gloomy castles are all listed somewhere – you just have to find them. The best order of research I’ve found is airfare first, then itinerary, lodging, and finally ground transportation. The airfares available may define your itinerary somewhat, and the itinerary will define the other items.
Airfare:
There is a reason I look for this first. There is a definite season to vacationing in the UK – summer. While many people do go on the non-’peak’ months of July and August, there is indeed a reason why summer is the best. Longer days to see sights, warmer weather, less rain and wind – and more things are open. That also means the airfare is the most expensive, and usually lodging as well.
The shoulder months of May, June, September and October are becoming more popular, as the weather is still nice, and the days aren’t incredibly short yet. However, that also means that the airfares are creeping up as they become more popular. I have traveled to southern Ireland in April and it was beautiful – and inexpensive.
When I’ve decided how much cash I’m willing to sacrifice for a warmer vacation, I start researching my flights. I go to dozens of websites, sometimes daily, to find the best fare. When I got tickets to Ireland in 2006, I found them on Travelocity on a one-day fare sale on Virgin Air. The tickets were non-stop from Miami to London, for $488 including taxes – in June. They were gone within 24 hours, so if I hadn’t jumped on them, I would be stuck with the lowest I could find later – $800 a piece.
Also consider flying into one city and out of another. This is great for Ireland, as you can fly into Shannon, explore the west, and end up flying out of Dublin at the end of your trip. Edinburgh, London, and Glasgow are also considerations for this technique. This is called an open-jaw ticket, and usually doesn’t cost much more, if any, than a normal round trip ticket.
Here are some of the sites I check regularly for discount airfare:
• Travelocity
• Priceline
• Kayak
• Expedia
• ITA software
• Qixo
• Mobissimo
There are others, of course, but these are the ones I’ve used most often. Also don’t forget to check the airline websites; if you find a great fare on Travelocity for Delta, Delta might have it cheaper, and it is usually better to deal directly rather than through a middleman. Also remember not all sites include taxes in their fare quotes.
When you buy your tickets, check out the cancellation policies. Usually, the cheaper the flight, the less flexible the changes allowed. Make sure you are going before you purchase non-refundable, non-change tickets!
Itinerary:
There is a wealth of information about places, monuments, workshops, battles, and other things of interest. Most cities and towns, even villages, have their own website with tourist information. In addition, many travel agent websites have great information for the intrepid traveler. Even more, there are websites dedicated to those interested in travel, with wonderful forums for those odd questions. Some of my favorites are:
• My own site (see link below)
• Fodors
• IrelandYes
• Flyertalk
• Tripso
• SlowTravel
• Lonely Planet
• Rick Steves
Once you have done exhaustive research of the places you want to see, taken notes to places, planned routes around them, and then throw half of it out. Yes, that’s right – you will likely end up with a list of 17 things to see in each city, and you will only have time for half of that, so pick your favorites.
Also, do yourself a favor, and be sure to leave room in your itinerary for free time – wandering around and getting lost, people-watching at a café, or just having a pint with the locals. These are usually the most memorable parts of your trip, leave time for them frequently. You don’t want to end up with an itinerary where you are rushing through things so fast you don’t see them. Michele at Ireland Yes calls that the Green Blur tour. (I suppose a Scottish version would be the Plaid Blur?)
If you’ve got the places listed you want to see, look for a pattern. Are they all close to a couple central locations? If so, pick several places and use them as bases of exploration. Can they be strung together in a large circle? Then spend a couple nights in each place, moving around the circle. Plan wisely, and try to avoid criss-crossing or backtracking. Check driving times between places with ViaMichelin and TheAA. Then add about 20% to those driving times – they don’t take into account UK and Irish roads. They twist, turn, and wiggle, which keeps speeds down lower than the speed limit! You don’t want a day where you are driving 80% of the time, trust me! I try to keep my days to 3 hours of driving at the most, and even that broken up with sites along the way.
Lodging:
Once you have your airfare and itinerary, you know which nights you are going to need lodging for, and where. The UK is wonderfully full of adorable Bed & Breakfasts, and I highly recommend this accommodation choice. The B&Bs in the US tend to be more upscale and expensive than those in the UK, so don’t go by their example. Most B&Bs I’ve ever been in have been comfortable, clean, cozy, and a delight to stay at. They run around $30-$60 a night per person, and include a huge breakfast (more on that later). You will pay higher for city B&Bs, and sometimes shared hotel rooms are less expensive in the larger cities. Do chat with the owners, and get their advice about local sites and attractions.
Hotels, as mentioned above, usually charge by room rather than by person. However, they may or may not include breakfast in the deal, and are usually more cookie-cutter and sterile. They are a place to stay rather than a place to enjoy.
Then you can try the other options, such as youth hostels (not just for youth anymore), camping, caravanning (RV), canal boats, or lodging in old monasteries, colleges out for the summer, etc. There is no end of unusual places to stay. On the Isle of Lewis, you can stay in a traditional black house; near Inverness, there is a converted church set up as a B&B. Get creative!
Once you have decided where you want to stay, make a reservation. Make sure to check the cancellation policies. Most have a day or so required, some a week or even a month. Email is usually an option for communication these days, but some may require a phone call; remember they are at 5pm when it is noon on our east coast, and don’t wake anyone up!
Ground Transportation:
So, you know when, where, and why you are going – how are you getting there? Well, my recommendation for the UK and Ireland is definitely for renting a car. While it is possible to use bus and train to get around, and certainly many people do, you can’t find the little villages doing this, and getting lost on the way is half the fun. If you are in a bus, you can’t make a detour on a whim to go find a hidden castle when you see a sign. You can’t always determine how long you stay at one spot; there is much less flexibility.
Now, I know it is scary to think about driving on the wrong side of the road. It gets worse: automatic transmission cars are twice as expensive to rent, and the manual transmission cars make you shift with your left hand (since the driver is on the right of the car). Confused yet? I remember many times trying to grab the stick with my right hand – only to bang it on the door. However, it’s not so bad – you get used to it very quickly. It helps to have a designated navigator, as the signage on the islands is different. Signs tend to tell you what the next town is, not what the road is called. That means you should know the major towns on the way to where you are going, or even the ones just past your destination.
Many cities in the UK don’t require a car to get around in; in fact, having a car is a liability in Edinburgh, Dublin and London. It is difficult to drive, find parking, and expensive. London even has a toll to enter the city centre! Those cities have a good public transportation system, though, especially the Underground in London, so use those instead. Turn in the car before getting there, or wait to rent it until you leave.
Gas (petrol) is very expensive over there. It is running around $8 a gallon right now. Yes, really! The good news is their engines run much more efficiently, and you can usually get around 45 mpg from them. However, filling up a tank can still run you $100! Budget accordingly.
I’ve gotten decent deals from AutoEurope (a rental agent, you will end up with a company like Enterprise or Europcar for the actual rental) and from Dan Dooley. I would advise against renting from a place you’ve never heard of, cars can be very expensive – and it is difficult to fight a fraudulent damage claim from overseas. Do be aware that most credit card insurances do NOT cover Ireland, so you will likely be required to purchase expensive CDW insurance for such a rental.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
OK, you’ve done your research, gotten your tickets, your reservations for lodging, and your car rental. Ready to go? Not yet!
Trip Insurance
You break your leg the week before the trip. Ruined! All your money lost! Not so, grasshopper – if you bought the proper trip insurance. Go to Insure My Trip and compare the benefits of different packages. Find out if your health insurance will cover you on foreign soil. Find out if you need medical evacuation, trip cancellation in case of medical emergency, etc. Compare the benefits, and find one that fits right. For a small investment, you get a great deal of peace of mind.
Paperwork, money, etc.
This should be taken care of before you even get the tickets, but everyone procrastinates. My husband ended up getting his passport the day before we flew out – we were very nervous! Normal processing time for a new passport is six weeks, but please give it plenty of leeway (especially if you’ve already bought non-refundable tickets!).
US citizens don’t need visas for short visits to the UK or Ireland, but if you are going somewhere else, do read up on the requirements long before your flight, and make sure all paperwork is in order.
Right now, the UK is on the Pound Sterling and Ireland is on the Euro. I recommend going to your bank and getting a couple hundred dollars to start out with, and getting more during your vacation from the ATM machine, and/or using your credit card. Shop around for a card with a good rate – many (Capital One is one of the few that don’t) add on an extra 3% for any foreign transaction, in addition to the 1% Visa/MC charges. You don’t want to carry too much with you, but some B&Bs require cash, and some require prepayment.
Packing
Sure, you’ve packed dozens of times for vacations. What’s the big deal? Well, the new flight carry-on restrictions, for one. Transatlantic flights have new rules, and it behooves you to know them before you are waiting in the security line for your flight.
Carry-on: Most airlines have their carry on rules on their websites. Some have weight as well as size restrictions, and the liquid restrictions are fun. Check before you go! Right now (Jan 2007) any carry-on liquids must be in containers no larger than 3oz (100ml) and they must all fit comfortably in a quart-sized clear Ziploc bag. That includes water, drinks, toiletries, even lip gloss. Prescription medicines must be labeled in the traveler’s name, baby formula may need to be tested at the gate. There are several exceptions like this, so check them out.
Checked luggage: Some airlines are now charging hefty fees for overweight luggage, and limit the number of pieces each person can check. Also, any locks on checked luggage can be cut by TSA (airport security). I usually use cable ties to tie mine – if TSA does go into my bag, they will put their own on afterwards, and in the meantime I’ll know if someone else goes into my bag.
Don’t, don’t, don’t put valuables or medicines in your checked luggage!!! Cameras, laptops, anything fragile, anything essential, must go in your carry-on. Of course, this makes your carry-on heavy, so some decision making is sometimes necessary. I also usually put one day’s worth of clean clothes in my carry-on, in case the checked luggage is delayed or lost.
READY TO GO? Don’t forget the smile!
Don’t forget to pack the most important thing for any trip – a great attitude. This small item can make the worst disaster into a hilarious story, can take the biggest lemon and make lemonade out of it. After all, how can it be terrible – you’re in Europe!
A trip to Europe will be full of wonderful memories, historic experiences, and meeting wonderful folks. Whether you get addicted like I have, or are happy with going once and treasuring the memory forever, you will have an exquisite time.
Budapest tours by hydrofoil is a favorite Danube River ship tour. You can travel by hydrofoil from Budapest to some places inside Hungary and to Vienna Austria or Bratislava Slovakia.
Some info about the ship operator company in Hungary: MAHART PassNave Passenger Shipping Ltd. Each year they welcome nearly 1 million passengers and guests on board of the 20 ships and 9 Hydrofoils in their fleet. Complementing their scheduled services there are one hour sightseeing trips, a Margaret Island ferry service, evening music and dance cruises in Budapest. Their events ships (Wine Ship, Kid’s Ship, Folk Ship) offer a variety of events for foreign visitors as well as for Hungarians. Their hydrofoil service linking Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna witch started up 1963, runs from beginning of April to the end of October. In 2006 they started attractively priced 2 day trips to Bratislava and Vienna running several times during the season. From the beginning of May to the end of September hydrofoils also run to Esztergom, stopping at Visegrad and Nagymaros and other tours run several times to Komarom, Solt, Kalocsa and Mohacs.
Further information about hydrofoil Budapest.
Check in and passport control from one hour prior to departure of the hydrofoil. Latest check-in 15 minutes before departure. Free luggage transport up to 20 kg, overweight EUR 1/kg. Services on board: a la carte buffet with cold dishes and drinks, stewardess, guidance about the sights along the Danube, complete catering menus for groups (over 10 people) on advanced order. On-board booking of programs, reservations of accommodation and taxi transfers in Budapest. The passengers take up their seats in the order of embarkation. Bicycles can be transported on board of the hydrofoil in limited quantity in turn of bicycle tickets. Pets are not allowed abroad. The price of the ticket includes: the fare, port dues, the travel insurance of passenger in case of personal injuries or luggage loss while abroad the hydrofoil.
International Hydrofoil Timetable: Budapest – Bratislava – Vienna
From 8 of April – 29 of October daily trips.
Hydrofoil Budapest Departure: 9:00 a.m. arrival to Bratislava 1:30 p.m. and Vienna 3:20 p.m.
The hydrofoil does not await in Bratislava.
Hydrofoil Vienna Departure: 9:00 a.m. arrival to Bratislava 10:30 a.m. arrival back to Budapest 2:30 p.m.
Back to Budapest the time of the hydrofoil trip is less with an hour than the direction of Vienna because of the River Danube direction of flow.
Fares of the hydrofoil trips in EURO:
Budapest – Vienna:
One way: EUR 79, student ticket: EUR: 69 children (6-15 years) EUR: 39,50.
Round-trip: EUR: 99, student ticket: EUR: 89 children (6-15 years) EUR: 49,50.
Budapest – Bratislava:
One way: EUR 69, student ticket: EUR: 59 children (6-15 years) EUR: 34,50.
Round-trip: EUR: 89, student ticket: EUR: 79 children (6-15 years) EUR: 44,50.
Bratislava – Vienna:
One way: EUR 23, student ticket: EUR: 23 children (6-15 years) EUR: 11,50.
Round-trip: EUR: 39, student ticket: EUR: 39 children (6-15 years) EUR: 19,50.
Maximum of 2 children in a family, not older than 6 years accompanied by 2 full price paying adults travel fee (in case they do not require separated seats on the hydrofoil).
Bicycle transport: 20 EUR per bicycle one way.
One day tours to Bratislava with combined tickets (hydrofoil and bus for back)
Departure from Budapest by hydrofoil liner of MAHART PassNave 9:00 am. and back from Bratislava 4:45 pm by Volan bus liner.
Fare: EUR 79 per person. Children discount between 6-15 of age 50% (children under 6 years of age if they do not requires separate seats travel free).
One day tours to Vienna with combined tickets (hydrofoil and bus or train for back)
Departure from Budapest by hydrofoil liner of MAHART PassNave 9:00 am. and back from Vienna 7 pm. By Volanbus liner or by any scheduled international train from Vienna to Budapest.
Fare: (combination of train): EUR 116 per person extra fee for first class train: EUR 18 per person. Children’s discount between 4-14 years of age 50% (children under 4 years of age if they do not requires separate seats travel free).
1. Pamper yourself
2. Visit a temple (or two)
3. Go shopping
4. See a (kecak) dance
5. Laugh at some cheeky monkeys
6. See a beautiful sunset
7. Run through the rain (if possible)
8. Eat, eat and eat
9. Spot some playing dolphins
10. Book your next trip
1. Pamper yourself
Enjoy your holiday to the fullest
“Massaaage??” You hear it every five minutes on the beach. Bali is of course the island for relaxation. So while your there, it’s easy to take good care of your mind and body.
In the tourist areas, you find spas on every corner. One of the better places to go is the Prana Spa in Seminyak. It’s a luxurious place and the treatments are well known and there are many to choose from.
Want to get healthier or more spiritual? The Bali Balance, also located in Seminyak, is your health spot. Here they offer you treatments like; Herbal Remedies, Massages, Acupuncture and many more.
2. Visit a temple (or two)
But keep it limited
The majority on Bali is Hindu and the place to practice this belief is of course in a Hindu temple. These temples are everywhere on the island; from small ones just on the street, to bigger family temples, to village-sized temples.
When you’re planning to spend your holiday in Bali, you’re probably planning to see some historical or cultural stuff. Great, make sure you see a temple to begin with and maybe if you have the change, visit a ceremony. Though, my mistake on previous holidays was that I saw too many of them. With almost every daytrip, there was a temple visit included. That’s the reason why I recommend just one temple, and it’s a big one so you’re allowed to skip the rest.
Pura Besakih a.k.a. The Mother Temple
This temple is definitely the “mother” of all temples; it’s located on the hill of Mount Agung and it is made up of courtyards with altars and shrines devoted to a number of gods. Take a guide there to show you around, but make sure you bargain about the price for it.
3. Go shopping
There’s plenty for everyone
Ok, so maybe it’s not your favourite thing to do (or maybe it is), but it’s sure fun to go shopping in Bali. Whether your looking for clothes, souvenirs or art, there’s enough choice for all.
When you go shopping in Bali, it’s a fact that you have to deal with bargaining. When you’re asking for the price, you’ll probably be shocked by the amount. But don’t worry, the Balinese expect you to bargain. I’m not going into the deep about the ‘art of bargaining’, but these things are important: keep smiling, determine your maximum amount that your willing to pay, explore more shops then just one, try walking away (because they might give you a much lower price) and last but not least; enjoy it!
Be aware of imitation! There are many shops in Bali that are selling fake designer brands. If you don’t mind, go ahead, but be aware of the rules in your home country when you’re trying to take them home.
The places where you need to shop are depending on what you want to buy. For just some clothing or souvenirs, you can stick around the tourist areas. For art, you are better of in Ubud or a small village nearby. For silver, you can go to Celuk. As you might notice, there’s a village for every product. Ask around or read in a travel book to find out where you can buy your things.
4. See a (Kecak) dance
Be aware! The cak-cak-cak sound might stick in your head
Again, the culture focused tourist, really should visit a traditional Balinese dance. One of the most famous of them all is the Kecak dance. In this dance, there will be cak-cak-cak sounds made by a large group of men and dancers will tell you a story in the most beautiful clothes and costumes.
There are several locations where you can witness a Kecak dance, but one place is quite spectacular; at the cliff of the Uluwatu temple. The dance starts right before sunset, so the setting is great and on your way you probably will spot some monkeys. Be aware of your personal belongings; these monkeys can be quite naughty. Enjoy the dance, sounds and sunset and make sure you don’t forget your camera.
5. Laugh at some cheeky monkeys
But don’t let them laugh at you
The animal kingdom in Bali is still quite impressing. Monkeys still live freely and you are able to spot them in the wild. There are several places in Bali where you can see the monkeys, but most famous is the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
The Monkey Forest is the home of hundreds long-tailed macaques and the forest is a beautiful place to see. There are no gates, so you can already spot the monkeys on the streets of Ubud.
Right before the entrance you can buy some bananas. This is a fun thing to do, but please not that the monkeys can be a bit aggressive in grabbing those bananas. So if you’re scared, just watch other people feeding the monkeys.
The macaques are quite funny; watch them playing around or acting crazy, but please don’t bother them. You’re the guest in their home, so they can be really angry when you’re disturbing them.
Make sure you bring a camera, because there can be some funny situations, but please watch out for your camera and other materials. Some monkeys can be little criminals and there are many tourists who have lost their (expensive) jewellery or glasses there.
6. See a beautiful sunset
(Or two, or three, or…)
The days are quite hot in Bali. Everyday it’s around 30 c / 86 f. The sun sets just after six o’clock and it’s the time to sit back, relax and get ready for a cooler evening (around 24 c / 75 f).
There are lots of places in Bali to see a great sunset, like the wide spread beaches. One of my favourite places is also located at the beach, but the setting is quite unique. Tanahlot, located 30 minutes from Kuta, is a great place to hang out around sunset. It’s a sacred place for the Balinese and you really can understand why. There’s an ancient temple right on the top of a big rock and the tie decides if it’s accessible.
Tanahlot is a touristy place, so make sure you’re there on time and grab yourself a spot on a rock. Enjoy the magic and the colourful sky, preferably with a loved one.
7. Run through the rain
If you get the chance
Travelling-guides are telling you often that the best time to go is the dry season (March- October). Maybe for many people it is (that’s why it’s crowded around these months), but personally, I love the rainy season.
But be aware though, it can rain pretty hard! The streets can get flooded for a while, but for me it’s always pretty impressive.
Remember that usually, it’s doesn’t rain all day and even not everyday. So when your trying to decide when to go, know that this season is also pretty good.
8. Eat, eat and eat
Selamat makan!
Yummy! What a joy to eat at a warung (local restaurant). For only a few dollar/euro you can eat a meal that’s really satisfying.
There are some good spots at the island where you can get a good Indonesian meal. Just take a good look around; some restaurants can be a little less focused on the western stomach, so the “Bali Belly” is not unknown.
One where it is good and safe to eat is Warung Murah (meaning Cheap Restaurant) located on Jl. Double Six (Seminyak). You can order from the menu, but I recommend ordering from the buffet. Pick your type of rice (like plain white, or yellow) and choose your meat and vegetables. Enjoy the food and the price you pay (yup it’s cheap).
Next to the Indonesian kitchen, there are of course a lot of other options. Visit Jl. Laksmana (a.k.a Oberoi) for a wide range of different restaurants. There’s something for everybody!
Selamat makan (bon appetit!)
9. Spot some playing dolphins
In Lovina, the north of Bali
Most of the tourist areas are located in the south of the island. When you’re on a holiday here, consider if you want to see more of the island and plan a two-day trip (or more) to the north (Lovina) for example. On your way here (and on the way back) you can choose to do some sightseeing, so the long trip is easy to do.
Make sure you arrange the full trip and location before, so you can just relax and know that it’s all arranged. You can plan your trip with a driver and/or a tourist information point / adventure kiosk.
When you arrive in Lovina, relax and get to bed early, because you have to be awake by five again to leave at six in the morning with a local fishing boat to spot some playing dolphins.
It’s really an amazing trip and I think every tourist should do it. While searching for dolphins (this can take a while) you see the gorgeous sunrise in the back.
Please note that those dolphins are fast and it’s more like a hunt to see a glimpse of a dolphin then a relaxing trip where the dolphins just play beside you. This was my thought before, but it’s pretty hectic. But fun! And to see those animals is pretty amazing. Get your camera ready and be fast! For me it was impossible to take a picture of them.
10. Book your next trip
You will return to Bali
I have been on many holidays. Sure it’s fun, but it’s always nice to head home again. My first trip to Bali was a little different.
I was staying for three weeks and that should be enough, I thought. But when the end of the period was there, I was sad to leave again.
My point is that Bali is some kind of magnet for many people. The tourists I have spoken to said all the same. They never just visit the island just once. Some Europeans were already on their 20th holiday to Bali, so every year they had to travel for many hours.