Really Nice Vacations

Went to Hong Kong for business and during one of those long boring meetings, my peer cheered us with this meaningful joke. I got him to email over so that I can share with more people here:

A holy man was having a conversation with God one day and said, “God , I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.”

God led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.

They were holding spoons with very long handles, that were strapped to their arms and each found it impossible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.

But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

God said, ‘You have seen Hell.’

They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one.

There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water.

The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand.. ‘

‘It is simple,’ said God . ‘It requires but one skill.

You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.

After reading Versa Creations’ Completing 2008, Creating 2009, I borrowed the questions and “remodel” them to relate to traveling.

Traveling 2009

What would you like to be your biggest travel triumph in 2009?

What travel advice would you like to give yourself in 2009?

What is the major effort you are planning to maximize your traveling pleasure in 2009?

What would you be most happy about traveling in 2009?

What major indulgence are you willing to experience in 2009?

What would you most like to change about your traveling plans or habits in 2009?

What are you looking forward to learning during your traveling in 2009?

What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2009?

What about your work, are you most committed to changing and improving in 2009, so that it can serve your traveling bug better?

What is one as yet unvisited country/place you are willing to explore in 2009?

What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2009?

Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2009?

Paris is an old city full of intrigue with a long history; also known as affectionately as the City of Lights. Many couples decide to take short stay in Paris as it is probably the most romantic city in the world; you can never become bored in this beautiful city.

This city is also equally well known for its gothic architecture and markets; including famous sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe to name just two internationally famous landmarks. Fortunately for tourists, Paris has a first rate transportation system; the underground train system or Metro can take you to anywhere within the city and is simple to use.

You can’t miss the Eiffel Tower, mainly because it’s over three hundred meters high; it can be seen from any point within the city and the superb views just can’t be matched by those looking at it from the ground. At night, it comes alive with lights that have to be seen to be believed; if you are really enthusiastic you can take a tour where the guide will tell you how this beautiful tower was built.

A trip down the Champs Elysees is encouraged when you visit Paris as this is the city’s most famous street; if you want to see famous, designer label shops and the restaurants, this is the place. This avenue may be select but it attracts large numbers of visitors daily; top class hotels are found here, although if you want to stay at a more reasonably priced hotel, they are available outside of the city center.

If you are an art lover you will enjoy the Louvre, a truly amazing museum; it contains almost a third of a million exhibits and is in fact one of the biggest art museums in the world. There are enough art exhibits to keep you occupied for more time than your short stay in Paris would allow; the Mona Lisa is one such world famous work of art which should not be missed. Over the years, Paris has been home to many of the world’s famous artists; the likes of Monet, Picasso and many others lived in the city for years and some of their work can still be seen today.

Of course, Napoleon commissioned the construction of the Arc de Triomphe, another Paris landmark; engraved with the names of generals that commanded his troops, it has become a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. It also features an observatory to take in surrounding views; in particular those obtained along the lanes that lead from it.

This city has a huge variety of places to visit, many of these have not even mentioned here; these are however, the most popular with regular tours arranged, many of which are either free or at a subsidized cost. Unfortunately, short stays in Paris can be demanding on visitors; what you aren’t able to this time will have to wait for another occasion.

Author:
The author of this article is Tushar Mathur who writes his own Travel Blog at http://travel-eat-sleep.com

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.

~ G.K. Chesterton

Made a whirlwind trip to New Zealand recently and despite my tight schedule, I managed to squeeze some time for sightseeing to have some fun in these 3 cities

At Auckland, I visited Auckland’s Dolphin and Whale Safari. The Hauraki Gulf is supposedly one of the world’s richest playground for marine mammals. Reportedly, at least 22 species of dolphins and whales have been found here. That day was Blue, bright and clear. The kind of day where it’s tough to separate the horizon and definitely not a day to think of work. and There were lots of shrieks and shrills when a sighting was made. According to the amused crew, the company can almost guaranteed viewing because there is a high 90% dolphin sighting rate and a 70% whale sighting rate all year round.

If you are going to Auckland for the first time, you can try this site for information on Auckland hotels. Don’t go there without a confirmed booking as the favourite hotels around business districts or tourist hot spots can be hard to get at certain period. Some  hotels will provide free brochures to recommend where you can visit.

At Wellington, I did a rare thing. I went to the Te Papa Museum. It was a rainy day and I thought the museum would keep me amused for a couple of hours before I decided what to do next. I was wrong, it kept me busy for 2 mornings to cover all the 6 floors of exhibits. I found Bush Walk, an outdoor venue featuring native plants and rocks an eye opener. While the Awesome Forces showing how earthquakes, volcanism and other forces have shaped the landscape were very interesting to me who don’t read geography in school. Of course, the entire 4th floor the covered the history of both the Maori and European settlers were fascinating. Knowing a little more of NZ’s definitely made me see it’s people and culture in a new light.

If you are not familiar with Wellington, I suggest you look up Wellington hotel before going there.

While at Christchurch, I was fortunate that my host made a reservation well in advance. Otherwise I would not be able to sit back and relax in this luxury 36-seater air-conditioned, colonial style dining tram. Not only was I treated to fine cuisine, I could see Cathedral Square, Botanical Gardens and the River Avon slowly past my window.

I’m sure you will have no diffculty getting infoormation on luxury or budget Christchurch hotels, but you might want to check the rate during the peak seasons. Christchurch is the must-see place for many tourists and business travellers at all time.

With airfare going cheaper, I was wondering if I can steal sometime to go back to New Zealand for pure holiday. I visited NZ way back in the 1990s and never failed to be amazed by this beautiful country. Would be really good if can spend at least 2 – 3 weeks there.

When the economic outlook is poor, it’s best to tighten your belt. So one way to enjoy your vacation is to go camping.

To enjoy a budget-friendly trip, safety is a chief concern regardless if you opt for a camping site or being gallivanting in the great outdoors. This is especially so when there are children around. As with any other things, safety is best ensured by planning in advance by doing.a little research before you even start to pack your backpacks.

Tip #1 – A common mistake is overlooking clothing, footwear and equipment requirements for seasonal transitions. A sudden shifts in weather and temperature happen all the time, yet many campers are ill prepared for these. Getting sick while having your were supposed to have fun is no fun at all! Getting sprained ankles or blistered feet during trekking would be greatly avoided if you are wearing proper hiking shoes. Wearing caps or hats would help guard you against the sun and insects. Packing several types of clothing is an excellent way to protect yourself from getting sick or even injured.

Tip #2 – Getting lost is another safety issue so a flashlight, a whistle, a bottle of water and some energy bars are essential when you head out of your tent. Getting lost is not that bad when you know what to do and you are prepared. The flashlight can be used to send signals at great distances. The whistle alert others on where you are. Water and food keep your energy and spirit up.

Tip #3: Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. Bring iodine tablets if you are uncertain of the cleanliness of the water supply. Always assume that streams, creeks and rivers are potentially contaminated sources of water so do not just drink directly from them. Iodine tablets are inexpensive and one of the easiest way to purify water.

Tip #4: Beware of nature. It is best to know which plants are “friendly” and which ones are harmful. It is also advisable to know if there are aggressive wild animal lurking around too. You might want to check out with rangers or the locals on these. Not to forget, there are also insects that are poisonous or could sting so packing a bottle of insect repellent is a good idea. If you somehow forgot, cover your body with as much clothing as possible.

Tip #5 – Bring a first aid kit because camping in remote areas often mean that proper medical attention is hard to find. It is always better to apply first aid treatment while waiting for the medical experts to arrive. First aid kit can be easily bought at pharmacies.

The above 5 tips are are just some of the things that would help everyone keep his camping experience safe and enjoyable.