Travel The World: Wakatobi Amazing Diving Sites

Travel The World: Wakatobi Amazing Diving Sites: Wakatobi sites Wakatobi is the best diving places in the world that has stunning panoramic view with underwater topography shaped cli...

Key Facts in Singapore

Many people marvel at the beauty of Singapore and her progressiveness. Most impressive to note is that she was formerly just a humble fishing village, inhabited by an indigenous settlement.

Fast forward to today. Singapore is a bustling cosmopolitan city populated with high-rise buildings and landscape gardens. Brimming with a harmonious blend of culture, cuisine, arts and architecture, Singapore is a dynamic city that’s rich in contrast and color. In fact, you can even say that Singapore embodies the finest of both East and West.

Located in Southeast Asia, Singapore has a land area of about 710 square kilometers, making her one of the smallest countries in the world. Although small in size, Singapore commands an enormous presence in the world today with its free trade economy and highly efficient workforce. Also, her strategic location in the region has enabled her to become a central sea port along major shipping routes.

Other than having a sound business infrastructure and favorable economic climate, another factor for Singapore’s rapid growth is due to a stable and competent ruling government. Singapore is a parliamentary republic with a political system that’s centered on democracy.

At present, Singapore’s population stands at about five million people, with English as the main language of instruction,and a mother tongue for each major ethnicity. Coming together as a society and living in harmony, there are four major races – namely the Chinese (majority), Malay, Indian and Eurasian. Each community offers a different perspective of life in Singapore in terms of culture, religion, food and language.

Being a multi-racial society, Singapore is as diverse as it is cohesive. If you prefer the bright city lights and being amidst the hustle and bustle, then you’ll be delighted to know that there are numerous shopping malls, museums, and dining and entertainment hotspots to choose from. Otherwise there is lot of traditional and cultural part to see in Singapore.

Beyond the history, culture, people, shopping and food, there are many more facets to Singapore’s thriving cityscape for you to discover. And these can only be experienced as you immerse yourself in the exploration of this once fishing village turned cosmopolitan city.

As student in Singapore you will experience best things that will ultimately be memorable. You are invited to this wonderful land.

Source: caanworld

The Beauty of Angel Falls

Angel Falls

During last several years we have shot aerial panoramas of the world's most famous and exotic waterfalls: Iguazu Falls in Brazil/Argentina; Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe; Black Waterfall in Iceland...

Naturally, when I came across discounted tickets to Margarita Island (the Mecca of windsurfers and kite boarders) in Venezuela, Salto Angel (Angel Falls) seemed an easy target. It is a well-known fact that Angel Falls is the highest in the world!

The highest point of the falls reaches 979 meters, with water falling from a height of 807 meters.  The height of the falls is so great that by the time it reaches the ground it becomes tiny particles that turns into fog.

It should also be mentioned that Venezuela is a unique country.  In addition to having Hugo Chavez and the unusually cheap price of gasoline (it only cost 100 rubles to fill up a Jeep), it is also home to the Tepui Mountain formation.

Tepui (or Tepuy) is a strange-looking mountain with a flat top called a "table-top" (because it is flat like a table). These unique geological formations are found mostly in the Venezuelan Guiana Highland in South America.

The word ‘Tepui' comes from the language of the Pemon Indians.  Tepui means ‘house of the gods'.  The Tepui formations are completely isolated from each other. The Tepui towers over the jungle making it a home to unique plants and animals.

Tepui

According to the article in Wikipedia the Angel waterfall was discovered when American aviator Jimmie Angel flew over Tepuy on 16 November 1933 on a flight while he was searching for a valuable ore bed.

Returning on 9 October 1937, Angel tried to land his Metal Aircraft Corporation Flamingo monoplane El Río Caroní; atop Auyan-tepui, but the plane was damaged when the wheels sank into the marshy ground, and he and his three companions, including his wife Marie, were forced to descend the tepui on foot. It took them 11 days to make their way back to civilization,via the gradually sloping backside but news of their adventure spread, and the waterfall was named Angel Falls in his honor.

Here you can also find some of the highest waterfalls in the world. Imagine kilometers-high mountains with steep vertical walls and flat tops in the middle of dense jungles.  On these, water accumulates after even a slight amount of rainfall, eventually coming down in numerous waterfalls.

Since mountain waterfalls are fed by rain, travel time needs to be planned carefully.  During the dry season, Angel is just a trickle of water.  In the rainy season, it is a full-fledged waterfall. However, the weather is so unpredictable that it is possible to not see it in all of its glory, even in as much time as a month...

Angel falls

Although the current season turned out to be dry, our informers reported a recent heavy rainfall. This would yield a full-fledge waterfall - we had to hurry up!

While in Moscow, I researched that there was no helicopter service near the waterfall at the Canaima National Park. Small airplanes that successfully served tourists in this area wouldn't have worked for us. With this in mind, I started searching for transportation on the first day of my arrival to the island of Margarita. Angel Falls is located in the jungles of Venezuela, so anyone can only get there by air or river.

After 3 days of searching, I called a company that services the gold mines with a Bell-206 helicopter.  The company is located 100 kilometers from the waterfall. It very well could fly "dear Russian guests" to the coveted Angel Waterfall in the first part of the day.

It took two planes, the Orinoco River crossing, and 8-hours long jeep ride to get from Margarita Island to the company office... But we are ready to go through all difficulties. So soon enough I found myself standing next to the yellow helicopter ready to take off.

The first day we took off at 7 am and arrived at the foot of Angel Falls at 8:15 am. The helicopter landed near the camp, from which a hiking trail led tourists to the waterfall.  Our informers did not disappoint us: there was a full-fledged waterfall coming down from the mountain top. Even at a considerable distance, Angel made a strong impression on us. After falling from a kilometer-high distance water is broken in the particles at the foot of the falls.  It leaves you standing in a cloud of "water fog" wondering where is this river coming from... It was down there, under a shower of a million tiny water droplets, at where it seemed that nowhere else could one feel the grandeur of the surrounding nature.

So, the final preparations for the flight were made, we removed the doors and the helicopter was ready for takeoff. Although the sky above the waterfall was clear, it was heavy overcast above Mount Auyantepui (from which flows Angel).

I decided that we should just fly to the mountaintop and wait there. We barely found a landing site among the "forest" of rock formations covering the top of the mesa.

It is only from a distance Tepui seem smooth, but in fact it has multi-metered crevices and steep walls ranging from a height of ten floors. It slightly limits your ability to move around the "table" surface. Within an hour blue gaps would open up in the clouds, only to close again.  Unfortunately, they happened far away from the waterfall.

Suddenly, within about five minutes, an ascending cloud engulfed us, and we were in dense fog. Within hours, the fog was so thick that the pilot not only refused to do the photo-shoot, but also did not even consider taking off. This kilometer-high cliff and the clouds emerging from down below would excite us at any other time. But now, unfortunately, we were seriously stuck on top of the mountain. The pilot's words didn't encourage us either: he mentioned that fogs like this could last more than a day.

However, we were lucky.  By lunch time, the fog started to thin out, so we took off. The pilot found a gap in the fog and we quickly and joyfully flew down to the camp. Throughout the descent I felt something surreal - we were flying through a tunnel of fog that formed around us. I managed to get one shot before the top of the mountain completely disappeared from our sight.

When we reached the ground and started to hang the helicopter doors back in place, the waterfall, as if it were laughing at us, suddenly appeared in all of its beauty.  The dense wall of fog had completely dissipated in ten minutes!

Although the high clouds over Auyantepui persisted, I decided to shoot spherical panoramas with the available light.  As a result, I was able to capture all the targeted locations during the first day (but with remnants of clouds and fog, and no sunlight).

In the evening, I put together previews of these panoramas on my laptop: unfortunately it didn't give me satisfaction.

I decided to fly back to Angel on the second day. This time we flew out from a village of gold miners simply called "88 km".  One hour ride to the waterfall. The sky was overcast.  What was the weather like at the waterfall?  It is over 90 kilometers away.  No one knew.

When we landed at the base camp at 8 o'clock in the morning, the waterfall was not visible at all.  Even Auyantepui mountain walls were completely covered with constantly growing fog. 

At 10 o'clock, about half of the waterfall became visible.  By 11 o'clock, the top started to appear.  I decided to go ahead and take off to shoot the cloud in the middle of the waterfall.

I set my second camera with a telephoto lens on a tripod to capture the helicopter with Angel Falls in the background.  The camera was programmed to automatically capture the waterfall (shooting in 5 second intervals) with my helicopter in sight.

The sky above us was grey.  As we took off and began to ascent, the top of the waterfall disappeared once again in the fog...  Never the less, I shot one spherical panorama... On the second lap around, I felt like there was something wrong with the camera. It turned out that my shutter was malfunctioning.  We had to go down, change the camera, and once again... wait.

The sky suddenly became clear and by 12:30 it was almost completely blue, but... as ‘Murphy's law' would have it, both Angel waterfall and the top of Auyantepui were still invisible.

So, for the sake of not wasting time, I decided to capture the nearby waterfalls. We circled around a magnificent 300-meter high waterfall with a scary name "Dragon". Then we moved to "Salto Cortina" with two cascades of 200-meters each. Still Dragon waterfall was my favorite - located in a very beautiful place and surrounded by the cliffs on three sides, it made one of the best panoramic views.

At the end of shooting the Dragon Waterfall, I saw that the cloud above Angel had lifted. We then immediately flew back. Within just a few minutes the fog was completely gone, and I started shooting Angel Falls from above.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon, only the very top was in the sun and the bottom of the falls was covered in shade. It lasted 15 minutes. I managed to get a helicopter to fly 800 meters from the mountaintop along the falls down to the ground and shoot about a dozen spherical panoramas. It was particularly difficult to shoot at the bottom of the falls. Water vapor completely enveloped the helicopter, so much so that I had to clean the lens after shooting each panorama. While shooting my next spherical photo, I saw that a low cloud at the top of the waterfall was only slowly moving in; however, I made it. On the ground, in the camp, while our pilot fixed the removed doors, I looked back only to see that the cloud had completely covered the waterfall...  This is how nature treats us:  she gives us 15 minutes in 2 days!

Angel Falls

On our way back we spotted surreal red and green colors down on the ground. It turned to be the gold mines!

After a bit of quarreling, the pilot agreed to hover over the mines with a removed door for a small tip.  But he warned us that if locals see a man with the camera, they might start shooting. The prospect of running into an angry gold-digger was not the ‘gold at the end of the rainbow' so to speak.  At the same time I remembered how the pilot exaggerated about spending the night in the fog at the top of the mountain, and decided to risk it.

The most popular association people make with the gold mines is the city of El Dorado.  According to the legend, the Spanish explorers of South America encountered many people that wore gold jewelry and used gold products in their daily lives.  There arose a myth of a gold city, which according to the legend, was located somewhere on the border of modern Columbia and Venezuela. This story of El Dorado drew the Spaniards deep into the heart of the continent.  Although El Dorado has never been found, variations of the legend can still be heard across the land of Venezuela.

Only upon our return home, we found out we were circling over one of the major gold mines. They have open-pit gold mining here, which explains its bright red clay. Gold miners live in the village, located directly at the borders of the mine. It's called Ciudad Dorada. Sounds very much like El Dorado, doesn't it?

And although I did not see the Golden City, I am glad that the flight over the mines went well.  Perhaps the miners were tired of working at the 40-degree heat and the humidity of the jungle, or the rain scared them off (the rain that came with a rainbow).  Or perhaps our pilot did his job well to earn the tip. But no one even paid attention to us, so we finished our photo shoot in one piece.

On our way back, I finally had that feeling of satisfaction from my finished work. Everything went well. The mission to shoot Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, as well as its beautiful surroundings, was now a success.

Source: airpano

Wakatobi Amazing Diving Sites

Wakatobi sites

Wakatobi is the best diving places in the world that has stunning panoramic view with underwater topography shaped cliff. The beauty of underwater scenery Wakatobi has been known for a long time for diving and snorkeling, because it has a beautiful stretch of coral, many unique and beautiful sea biota, soft and hard corals, colorful fish and seabed hilly.

Many people who say Wakatobi is the best diving places in the world that has stunning panoramic view with underwater topography shaped cliff. The beauty of underwater scenery Wakatobi has been known for a long time for diving and snorkeling, because it has a beautiful stretch of coral, many unique and beautiful sea biota, soft and hard corals, colorful fish and seabed hilly.

Wakatobi is located on Sulawesi island,Indonesia. To reached Wakatobi from Jakarta is by plane directly to Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi. Then traveled by ship directly to Wanci, the island of Wangi-Wangi. Just need to be considered a match scheduled aircraft arrival and departure schedule ship in Kendari into port Wanci.

Wangi-Wangi is the largest island located in the Wakatobi with an area ??152 km2. Wangi-Wangi it’s mean fragrant and the name comes from the many of cloves (Eugenia Caryophyllata) on this island that planted in the past. Wakatobi name comes from some island that is Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomio and Binongko.

Tourists come to Wakatobi to dive but many are just snorkeling because it has not certified diving. They can also do photograph and fishing. With snokeling any visitor can enjoy the beauty of the coral at a depth of 3-5 meters. Although diving can be done anytime, but in April and December is the best month for diving because the weather was very nice. Besides diving and snorkeling at the beach is also provided specialized motor dive, snorkeling tours and exploration on the islands. For divers who have an advanced certificate, can enjoy the large size carpet of leaves (foliose sp) at a depth of 26 meters. Another interesting spot in Rome, Coral reef and table Waitii city. If lucky, you will be able to see green and hawksbill turtles.

Several dive spots are recommended to be visited include the waters of the Village Matahora, Karang Kapota, Karang Otiolo, Hoga,Tanjung Sombano (Kaledupa), Mangrove Sombano-Mantigola, Mangrove Darawa, Karang Tomia, Pesisirtubir Tolandone, Mari Mabuk, Tanjung Bante (Binongko), Pantai Mbara-Bara (Binongko).

Besides diving and snorkeling, many tourists who come to this island to enjoy fresh air, clear sea water and the azure or for activities photography. This is mainly supported by a number of historical relics of forts like Fort Mandati Liya and Tonga, and several beaches such as Beach Sousu and Jodoh that has white sand and beautiful scenery both above and below the sea.

Complete your trip by enjoying a culinary tour that already famous Sop Konro Makasar and Iga Bakar. For cold snacks you can enjoy an ice Palu Butung that is banana wrapped in a green flour batter plus thick coconut milk, red syrup and ice. You can also enjoy the famous flavor and scent of Makasar coffee.

Source: tomiadivecenter

The Beauty of Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Wayag Island is one of the islands within the Raja Ampat district in the province of West Papua. The island is known for its beautiful atolls and amazing underwater life covering a total area of 155,000 hectares.

The only place at Raja Ampat where you can dive all year around is the Papua Paradise EcoResort. The EcoResort enjoys a geographical position which allows easy access to the resort in any weather conditions. You can count on fantastic dive's at any time of the year. Only with our help you can visit the natural habitat of the three endemic bird species in the area.

We have the only house reef in the area where you can encounter mandarin fish, manta rays, wobbegongs, bamboo and reef sharks and bump into the occasional dugong.
We are serious about being an "Eco" resort and being environmentally friendly. All our holiday houses are built using traditional Papuan building techniques and materials. As a result we are able to cool our guest houses by the constant breeze blowing in the area rather than installing air conditioning units.

At our island and resort we have access to ample amounts of fresh water, therefore we don't use water purifying systems which waste energy and can pollute the environment. To ensure that our guests can enjoy a nice hot shower at any time of the day we harness the power of the sun to heat our water.
Source: papuaparadise

Even though this photo was taken in southern Raja this scene could easily be from Wayag. Photo: Jones/Shimlock

It is no exaggeration to Raja Ampat being called "Underwater Paradise om Earth". The geographical location of Raja Ampat archipelago in the hub of the world's coral triangle has made Raja Ampat waters rich of marine biodiversity.
With average sea temperatures from 22 o-30o Celsius, the waters of Raja Ampat has approximately 603 hard coral species. This number represents 75% of total coral reefs in the world. Based on various studies by the world natural conservation agencies like Conservation International and Nature Conservancy, Raja Ampat waters were estimated to have 1397 fish species. It is not mistaken that the waters of Raja Ampat is also called "Capital for Fish in the World".
Besides fish species in the marine waters of Raja Ampat archipelago, there are also 60 crayfish, 699 types of soft animals (species of mollusks) consisting 530 snails (Gastropoda), 159 shells (bivalva), 2 Scaphopoda, 5 squid ( Cephalopoda) and 3 Chiton. This richness has made Raja Ampat archipelago a group of small islands with verily abundant marine biodiversity. (Source: Raja Ampat Regency Tourism Profile)
The rich undersea life in Raja Ampat waters has made it one of the most interesting diving destinations for scuba enthusiasts in the world.   (wbp)
Source: gorajaampat

Local children enjoying the reef in front of their village. Photo: Jones/Shimlock.

If you wish for a tour experience like Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean sailing through the waters of tropical island while diving in beautiful locations, Raja Ampat is also a place for the same experience. Based on data recorded by Raja Ampat regency administration until 2011, there were 38 active tourist boats operating in waters of Raja Ampat offering similar tour services. Exploring the islands of Raja Ampat on boat tours will give you an amazing experience because you will be allowed with the opportunity to enjoy life in the sailing ship during the trip.
Generally, the ship operated for tourism purposes is sailing ship made of wood and designed in such a way to give sailing experience like sailors in the past. Imagine yourself on board with high boat mast, full sail screen and wind blowing your face while enjoying the scenery of tropical islands. Although most parts of boat are primarily made of wood, you should not worry about the comfort onboard. Some tour boats even offer services and design as if you were in a starred-hotel.
The route of this tour boat varies one with another. Some of these tour boats start their voyage from Sorong city sailing around the northern part of Waigeo to Wayag then sailing to the south to Misool islands and finally return to Sorong city. During the trip, we will have transit in some beautiful sites where we can enjoy the scenery and of course beautiful seascape by diving. Other than this route, there are lots of tour boats sailing through the routes which connect some diving and tourism resorts outside Raja Ampat.

Source: gorajaampat

The Beauty of Bali Indonesia

Balinese artists perform the Kecak dance at Uluwatu. Dancing and music are a huge part of the local culture.

UBUD, BALI—In a family compound just outside this small town, a Hindu priest recites prayers as a young couple hold their 3-month old baby. His head is covered in holy water, then, as onlookers make a circle, he is lifted up and down by female family members. His feet are just barely grazing the ground.

Tanah Lot Bali

Photos: Trip to Bali

This ritual is performed on every baby in Bali. It’s part of an ongoing series of ceremonies that occur throughout a child and an adult’s life, all part of the Balinese Hindu faith.

In Bali babies are considered godlike until they are six months old. They are carried everywhere to protect them against disease and the spirits of the underworld who are considered so powerful they could swallow up the baby, imprisoning them forever in their demonic world. So care is taken to protect them in their early years. They are always held in the arms of their mother, aunt, grandmother.

I was lucky enough to attend this ceremony – an auspicious beginning to my two-week stay in Bali. Religious ceremonies are a daily part of life in Bali where sometimes traffic stops so a religious procession can make its way down the streets. Hinduism here is played out not only in family compounds, but on street corners, village temples, even rice paddies. It’s all about balancing good and evil; male versus female.

The scene captures the essence of Bali – an island full of spiritualism, mysticism and witchcraft. Life in Bali is always about “tri hita karana” or the relationships between the Balinese and others or God and the environment, according to Janet De Neefe, author and restaurateur in her book Fragrant Rice which details her life and marriage in Bali.

“Indonesia is a cultural gem but Bali is the diamond,” said De Neefe in an interview with the Star. “It has a diverse culture that incorporates artistry with a reverence for God and nature. It is hard not to be charmed by it.”

Balinese women

WHAT TO SEE

Whether it’s from your beach side hotel in Sanur or the secluded beach at Padang Padang where scenes from Eat Pray Love were shot, the beach views are truly breathtaking. Tourism to nearby Kuta took a hit after the 2002 and 2005 terrorist attacks. But it has recovered, and there is a terrific surfer scene as well as fishing and diving.

No trip to Bali is complete without spending time is this quirky town which is an odd mix of expats, the worldly and not so worldly Balinese, tourists and the odd seeker revisiting the 1960s. Walk down any street and you’ll find offerings burning on the sidewalk, altars to family gods, art, and storefronts for traditional healers. Nearby is the silversmith village of Celuk and the woodcarving village of Mas.

• Gunung Batur is a volcano that last erupted in 1994. By noon it is covered in a rolling mist, but the view of it from Kintamani, a nearby village, is spectacular. At the foot of the volcano is Bali’s largest freshwater lake, Danau Batur.

• Northern Bali is often ignored, but the resort community of Lovina, known for its black sand and colourful coral, offers a quiet refuge from southern Bali’s hustle and bustle. On the way one can visit Braham Arama Vihara, a Thai-style Theravada Buddhist temple with a brightly painted Buddha and other statues. Also on the way is Air Terjun Gitgit, a 40-metre waterfall with a deep pool at the bottom.

WHERE TO STAY

For the truly rich and decadent: The Four Seasons in either Ubud or the Barong Resort and Spa or the Four Seasons in Jimbaran; the Bali Hyatt in Sanur; the Bali Inter-Continental and the Ritz-Carlton also in Jimbaran. Also just opened: a W-hotel and spa at Seminyak. Prices vary depending on season. Suites at the Four Season at Sayan, Ubud can average 460 U.S. a night. The W can cost from $270 U.S. to $720 a night. For more everyday budgets: Ubud has dozens of guest houses and cheaper hotels. Rooms at Alam Indah can cost as much as $85 U.S. a night. Or try the Artini 3, which can cost $60 to $80 U.S. or the Peneeda View in Sanur for about $111 U.S. a night. For more suggestions visit www.balitourismboard.org.

WHERE TO EAT

Casa Luna (Indonesian fusion) and Indus (also Indonesian gourmet fusion) both are run by Australian expat Janet De Neefe and her Balinese husband Ketut Suardana, Lamak (amazing gourmet fusion with incredible bar), Warung Enak (owned by same owners as Lamak, serving everything Indonesian and more), Café Wayan (which serves amazing breads and cakes as well as Indonesian fare), Bebek Bengil or the Dirty Duck Diner which is set among the rice fields. Duck is known as the specialty, but try the white fish dish with an Indonesian dry rub of spices. Pizza Bagus makes a great pie. You can go to the market in Sanur and eat Nasi Goreng—Indonesian fried rice—at a table and chairs under the stars.

WHERE TO GET INSPIRED

I woke up early my last morning and shot photographs of the sun coming up over the Indian Ocean. The spectacular turquoise sky shot with pink was like a Camille Pissarro painting—with just a hint of Salvador Dali

JUST THE FACTS

ARRIVING Cathay Pacific flies to Denpassar in Bali through Hong Kong. One can catch a flight from Toronto or Vancouver or if you’re not adverse to saving some money fly out of New York. Singapore Airlines and Korean Airlines also flies to Denpassar out of New York.

WHERE TO GO

Walk through the terraced rice paddies; visit a coffee plantation; visit Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi, Pura Thirtha Empu where a holy spring bubbles up through black sand. Try the 11th century temple and caves of Gunung Kawi, which dates to the 11th century. Also popular are bike tours, diving, surfing and swimming with dolphins. You can take a yoga class at Yoga Barn www.yogabarn.com, spend two weeks on a yoga retreat with California instructor Ann Barros or spend some time at an ashram near Ubud called Ashram Munivara www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com/ashram. Visit Ubud market at sunrise for fresh produce. Casa Luna and Café Wayan offer cooking classes. Café Havana is a new nightclub that features salsa dancing and Latin music. Listen to jazz at Casa Luna on Sunday nights. Attend the International Writer’s and Readers Festival in October.

AVOIDING Unless you have a thing for monkeys, stay far away from the Monkey Forest in Ubud. It’s basically a tourist trap and the monkeys in the forest are downright annoying, snatching away everything from bags to sunglasses. Denpassar is the provincial capital and it’s like any other big Indonesian city.

SHOPPING Try Bali Becik, with hundreds of handmade beaded sandals in all sizes and styles.

Jean-Francois Fichot’s on Jl. Raya Pegnosekan combines a unique combination of stones and silver. www.jf-f.com. At Prapen Jewellery you can watch silversmiths work as they create beautiful traditional pieces. www.prapenjewellery.com Fabulous silk and batik pieces can be found at local stalls on the streets and from vendors at tourist attractions. Nowhere is anyone prouder of being a painter or sculpture or designer than in Ubud. The art can be delicately, intricately painted pictures of Balinese dancers or more contemporary works of art like giant sized lotus flowers. For masks and Wayan puppets try I.B. Sutarja, a mask carver in Mas.

At Hardy’s department store you’ll find just about everything from a batik fan to peanuts and cookies as well as fresh fruit, appliances and sarongs.

bali

DANCING Dance is revered in Bali. The one I saw was a Kecak Dance and Firewalk at the Laka Leke Hideaway Restaurant. The dancers re-enacted the Hindu story of Lord Rama and the monkey god Hanuman and the search for Rama’s wife Sita, who has been captured by an evil lord. Also cool: the procession of life-size puppets of demons called “ogoh – ogohs” in towns across the island on the day before Nyepi—the Hindu Day of Silence and New Year in March.

Source: the beuty of bali

The Beauty of Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is paradise on earth. It is the go to place not only for honeymooners but for people who want to catch some sun, surf and sea. Hawaii is one of the most amazing places to spend your precious vacation. You may find the same activities in other tropical vacation spots but nothing compares to Hawaii. So what’s so beautiful about Hawaii aside from the endless stretches of beaches?

Sunset

You can see the sunset from any place on the globe. But in Hawaii, it is simply magical. The Hawaiian sunset can be enjoyed while sailing on a catamaran. Special cruises depart from Anaeho’omula Bay and from other places on the islands. You can soak in the sunset while enjoying an open bar, gourmet appetizers and glasses of champagne. Watch the sky turn into shades of orange, pink and violet as the sun retires and the moon takes her place.

Volcano

See Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano. Watch as lava flows out and meets the sea creating new lands. Experience the steam vents and see ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs as you hike through the rainforests.

Waterfalls

Hawaii has several waterfalls around the islands that cascade into tropical pools from the Big Islands to Maui and Kauai. You can see the falls while flying over in a helicopter or from way down below. It’s an experience you should not miss.

Underwater Marine life

Snorkeling and scuba diving around the islands is a great way to see Hawaii’s diverse marine life. You can see a wide variety of fishes and corals. If you are lucky, the turtles will be around to welcome you. But for a truly wonderful experience, go on a hi-tech submarine. The submarine brings you to the bottom of the ocean close to sunken ships, airplanes and marine life.

Luau

The luau has been around for many generations. This great Hawaiian feast is filled with merry making, eating and a sense of community. You can experience an authentic luau in various places on the islands. Enjoy traditional Hawaiian music and entertainment with men and women wearing authentic Hawaiian garb. Savor true Hawaiian cuisine like kalua pork, poi, lomi-lomi salmon, sweet potatoes, bananas and more. Don’t forget that spoons and forks are optional.

In Hawaii, there are endless activities for you to enjoy like swimming, surfing, kayaking, cruising, sailing and other water activities. Then there’s dolphin and whale watching, hiking, biking or horseback riding around the islands, shopping, touring historical places and places of interest and not to forget, indulging in great Hawaiian cuisine. The beauty of Hawaii comes from the diverse activities you can enjoy and the warm, hospitable people waiting to meet you. Get lost in Hawaii and you will surely have a fantastic time.

People on Hawai are also like any other person, they’re online and chatting with each other. If you want to search people who do live there you can easily do it with this article. Or maybe use the Twitter search function and search for #Hawai. Wish you best of luck!

Source: maryeandrews

The Beauty of South Korea

Seongsan Sunrise Peak

Some 25 million South Koreans -- about half the population -- travel abroad at least once a year, but it’s safe to assume that most haven't seen all the beautiful sights within the country. 

Seoul only takes up a mere 0.6 percent of South Korea's territory: here are 50 stunning photographs from the other 99.4 percent of the country that are all worth a visit. 

Here are the flowery spring landscapes, sandy beaches, rocky mountains and quietly stunning historic sites on your new Korean travel bucket list. And just in case you were wondering, they are in no particular order. Feel free to add some suggestions of your own in the comment box at the end of the article.

Hydrovolcanic eruptions formed this majestic volcanic crater 5,000 years ago on Jeju Island.

A UNESCO world heritage site, the peak is famous for many things, including numerous rare plant species, but is best known for the magnificent sight of the sun rising over it (hence the name).

The climb up the peak’s northwest side ridge (its other sides are steep cliffs) to the 180-meter highest point takes 30 minutes.

Ggotji Beach

Located four kilometers southwest from Anmyeon-eup, this cream-colored beach is the ideal place to go for a drive and watch the sun sink into the ocean between two large rock formations known as the Granny Rock and the Grandpa Rock.

Legend has it that the wife of a base commanding officer in the Shilla Dynasty became the Granny Rock when she died after waiting faithfully for her husband.

Gwang - An Bridge

Also known as the Diamond Bridge, this two-story bridge connects Suyeong-gu and Haeundae-gu and offers an astonishing view of mountains, sandy beaches, hills and city lights. 

Kwang-An Bridge is not for pedestrians, but anyone can enjoy the spectacular night view of the bridge from afar; its state-of-the-art lighting system allows an exterior lighting of over 100,000 colors.

Kyeong-wha Station, Jihae

This small whistle-stop bustles with tourists and amateur photographers every spring. 

Cherry blossoms rain down on the train track and countless shutters click madly away as the train approaches the station under the cherry blossom tunnel. 

The cherry blossom road at Yeojwa stream, (number 17 on this list) is also nearby for those who want more photo-ops. 

Upo Mars

At 2,314 kilometers squared, Upo Marsh is the largest inland wetland in Korea and thrice the size of Yeouido. Formed over 140 million years ago, the marsh is home to 1,500 plants and animals, some of which are endangered species.

Visitors can bike or walk around this beautiful natural swamp, where migratory birds are known for flying low. 

Uleungdo Island Seaside Road

Uleung Island, nicknamed "Mysterious Island", is a popular weekend getaway spot for Seoulites.

Curious rock formations, shore cliffs and numerous waterfalls adorn the island’s Seaside Road.

Anyone planning to walk or bike their way around Uleung Island should make sure they set aside enough time, as they will inevitably stop countless times to admire the glorious view.

Bomun Pavilion, Gyeongju

Gyeongju, an ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty, boasts the nickname "a museum with no walls." 

Bomun Pavilion, a small wooden gazebo standing over a quiet duck pond, is a great spot to experience Korea’s spring; the cherry blossoms fluttering over the pond provide an exquisite sight.

In fact, it's the perfect place to view all of Korea's markedly different seasons: summer's lush green leaves, fall's scarlet and mustard foliage, and winter's blankets of snow.

Udo

Just 15 minutes away from Jeju Island, Udo is another addition to Jeju's bucket list.

Visitors can hike on Olle road, or opt for a scooter ride along the shore, a submarine excursion or sea fishing. Just don't forget the sunblock.

Source: 50 beautiful places visit korea