Touring Brisbane is moderately easy and facilities abound for the international traveler to have a fulfilling stay in capital city of Queensland. There are some things that any erstwhile tourist will need. Firstly a map of Brisbane and these can be acquired at any council tourist advisory centre or kiosk which are located in the Queens St Mall in downtown Brisbane. Comfortable shoes are a must as you will be doing a lot of walking around the sityes to ensure you see everything. You will need a reliable camera for bragging rights, because you will need proof that you went places and did things.

Purchase a return airline ticket to Brisbane from your home country. Tickets are available inexpensively at online ticket agencies as well as regular travel agents. You might like to look at:

• http://fastairplane.info/?gclid=CPHQgveqiZUCFQcqIgodXwSdqg
• www.opodo.co.uk/uk/flights/australia/airlines.htm
• www.OnlineTns.biz
• www.Qantas.com.au/US
• www.algonquin.mec.edu/lincoln/pages

Obtain a Visitor’s visa for Australia. These are available at any Australian Consulate attached to their Embassy in your country. Visit the website http://australia.visahq.com/ for directions on applying for a visa. American Nationals generally will have no trouble securing a visa.

Pre-book sleeping accommodations. There is any number of hotels available close to downtown Brisbane, ranging from three star to five star.

• www.oztravel.com.au/travel_mall/hotels/Brisbane_HiltonBrisban.html
• www.mercurebrisbane.com.au
• www.smartstays.com/chifley-at-lennons-hotel-brisbane-australia
• www.pacificislandtravel.com/australia/queensland/hotels/ql_bne_stamfordplaza.html
• www.virtualtourist.com/

Visit the Queen Street Mall, (downtown). Spanning two blocks of Downtown Queen Street, the former main street in Brisbane is tiled so that shoppers can experience international shopping, dining, and entertainment at their fingertips. As well as the many specialty shops and theatres, kiosks operate as tourist advisory centers. Here you will be able to find free maps and suggestions as to where to visit during your stay downtown and in greater Brisbane. Your hotel will have brochures also.

Visit Myer Centre. This is a six level indoor shopping mall containing eight cinemas, a food hall which has food of all ethnic origins, a department store, Myer which occupies three levels of the mall at the southern end, and many discount clothing and electronic and specialty stores (Albert & Elizabeth Streets, downtown). This fully indoor shopping mall is serviced by glass backed see through elevarors providing a breathtaking view of the entire complex as you ride up or down.

Eat some wonderful food. There are numerous fine restaurants in Brisbane. Brisbane boasts restaurants of all ethnic origins: Greek, Italian, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai, to mention just a few. The concierge at your hotel will have brochures from the numerous restaurants located in the downtown area and also in the suburbs. If you are looking for a quick meal at 3am, why not take a cab to Harry’s Fine Foods, a Cypriot Greek Café in Petrie Tce Paddington. Next door to harry’s you can sample beers from home at the boutique pub at Casablanca Nite Club. Turn left past Casablanca and Caxton Street is akin to Boubnon street New Orleans.

Enjoy some gaming after your meal at the Treasury Casino, located in the fully renovated and preserved colonial era sandstone Government Treasury building. Treasury Casino has two levels for general gambling. (Queen St downtown) If you have a limitless supply of money and wish to place huge bets, you can get admittance to the “High Rollers” rooms upstairs from the general gaming floors. Minimum bets are $1000+

Stop off at the Queensland Performing Arts Center (QPAC) & Museum (Across Victoria Bridge, walk from downtown) for some stimulating performances and museum displays. Adjacent to QPAC is Southbank Parklands. Here you will find regular open air markets and free concerts in the amphitheatre. Located right on the river bank you will find restaurants and coffee shops in these idyllic settings. In roughly the centre of Southbank there ias an artificial beach area where you can go swimming and sunbathing if weather permits, and it is only a short walk or convenient bus or metro train ride from downtown.

One convenient way to see Brisbane from a river perspective is to ride the City Cat Ferries, Cruise up and down the Brisbane River. The ferries do not just travel across the river. City cats are shallow draught fast flat bottom boats which side smoothly back and forwards across the river starting at Bretts Wharf Pier at Hamilton and winding it’s way through the scenic Brisbane River and terminating at the University of Queensland Pier about an hour later. Tickets and Information at:

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_1231

Sites in or close to Brisbane

(Distances from downtown approx)

• Rugby League, Union and Soccer Matches Suncorp Stadium (1/2 mile W.)
• http://www.suncorpstadium.com.au/
• Cricket Matches (During summer) at the Gabba Stadium. (2 miles SE)
• http://www.swiftcity.com/guides/australia/1/14.html
• Horse Races at Eagle Farm or Doomben Racetracks (5 miles NE).
• http://www.satellite-sightseer.com/id/10381
• Brisbane Entertainment Center at Boondall, (9 miles N).
• http://www.brisent.com.au/default.asp?PageID=4
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (10 miles NW of).
• http://www.koala.net/index.htm
• Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo at Beerwah, (45 miles N on Old Bruce Hwy).
• http://www.australiazoo.com.au/
• Gold Coast, (50 miles S).
• http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=1461
• Sunshine Coast, (70 miles N).
• http://www.sunshinecoasttourism.com/

Resources

• Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin)
• Brisbane Hotels
• Suncorp Stadium

Phi Phi Islands:

Phi Phi Islands are located in Phuket, Thailand. However, it is a part of Krabi. Phi Phi reminds the tourists of heaven. My friend Pawaena says “it is like the reflection of beauties in heaven. A combination of all beauties. ”

There are many hotels, hostels and spas in Phi Phi. Every summer, more than one million people go Phi Phi for vacation and the population of the island changes dramatically. Habitants of the island are very hostile and happy when they see new faces.

Seven Mile Beach:

It is located in George Town, the capital city of Cayman Islands. Despite its beautiful nature, the number of visitors was dramatically decreased after Hurricane Ivan disaster. There are many resorts and hotels in George Town to accommodate. Puclic nudity and loud music is strictly forbidden.

Lanikai Beach:

Lanikai is located in Hawaii, on the coast of Oahu. Unlike other beaches, Lanikai is only for very rich people. It is ranked as one of the bests. If you are well-off, this should be your first choise.

Manly Beach:

It is located in Sydney, Ausralia. A good place for swiming, surfing and even walking. Manly beach has three parts, Queenscliff, North Steyne and South Steyne. It is adjacent to Sydney Harbour National Park.

Blue Bay Beach:

It is located in Zanzibar. This is one of the favourites of travel agencies in Turkey. Likewise other touristic places, Blue Bay has many hotels,resorts and spas. Since prices are moderates, it is open to everyone from different classes.

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon is the biggest and most probably the most beautiful canyon in the world. It is situated in Arizona State. Grand Canyon is also a national park.

Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon, or Barranca Del Cobre, is the name of a group of canyon in Chihuahua state in Mexico. Copper Canyon consists of 6 canyons in Sierra Tarahumara region.

Avon Gorge Canyon

A natural beauty in Bristol, England. Every year, millions of tourists come Avon Gorge to see both the beauty of canyon itself and Avon River.

Fish River Canyon

It is located in Namibia. It is one of the largest, most well-known and most beautiful canyons of the world. Fish River flows through canyon. It's marvellous nature attract millions of visitors every year.

Vikos Gorge Canyon

Vikos Gorge is a national park in Epirus, Greece. It is the natural habitat of many animals species and one of the marvels of nature. Vikos Gorge is the deepest canyon in the world.

In my defense it should be pointed out that Bar Harbor was not the main focal point of the vacation I took this summer with a friend. We had spent a week at a cottage in Prince Edward Island, and on the suggestions and urging of my friend, Bar Harbor was inserted into the itinerary for our drive home. She convinced me that Bar Harbor was somewhere that she had always wanted to visit and her life would not be complete if we didn't visit it. Now!

First of all, travel by car is not for everyone. Secondly, car travel is better if it IS the vacation, rather than merely the means of getting from Point A to Point B. We chose driving because despite absurd gasoline prices it was still the most economical means of travel, as well as the fact that neither of us had driven to these areas and wanted to take in the scenery. I think that the ideal situation would be to drive to your destination, spend a restful week and fly home.

Having said that, our side trip to coastal Maine was delightful. Even if the weather was not delightful. Like most areas in central and eastern North America in summer 2008, rain was a constant irritation.

This car trip certainly brought back memories of car trips my sister and I had endured with our parents growing up. Back then we had no idea how far places were and how long it would take us to get there. Well, despite being considerably older, I still had no idea how far places were and how long it would take to get to them. At least on this trip that was the case.

And, did you know that Bar Harbor is on an Island? Of course you knew that. It was only us that discovered this interesting fact as the drive along Bar Harbor Rd. through Ellsworth on the way to Mount Desert Island seemed to take forever. This is where the difference between driving to get somewhere and driving to enjoy the scenery became quite evident.

Considering how tired we were after a day of travelling by car to get to our 'dream' destination, we were extremely pleased with what we found when we arrived in Bar Harbor. We were able to find a very adequate hotel despite arriving without reservations. The hotel we checked into was right on Eden St. at the north edge of town, and we quickly discovered that there was a shuttle bus that passed on a continuous route from the outlying hotels to the center of Bar Harbor. Of course we also quickly discovered that if you weren't right there when the bus passed your hotel it was not going to wait for you. Not to fear though because as I mentioned the buses kept a regular schedule. One caution though. You would have to enjoy bus travel because it is a very "up-and-down" journey and you would need to have a seat or strong arms to hang on to the rail.

Bar Harbor is a very interesting place and our very short stopover just wetted our appetite for more. Another visit is definitely in store. With any luck the weather will be better because a little bit of fog and rain seemed appropriate, but too much rain just put a 'damper' on our visit. Many restaurants and shops will give you plenty to do while in the center of town and the National Park is fantastic. I have to make special mention of one particular shop that got a lot of attention from us. That was a store called Christmas Vacation on the right hand side of the street heading toward the water. You will know it when you get there. Awesome! Ask them if they have any Flamingos!

So, for anyone traveling along the east coast of the United States I would recommend a side trip to Bar Harbor, Maine. You just never know what you will find there. You may even find me there!

'Let's get a move on it,' yells the coach driver. "Get out of the way and let the paying customers on." Other passengers rush by until Shawn, my newly wed husband scurries frantically across the road while freeing the straps of a scantily loaded camping bag off my back. The bus conductor holds out his hand and demands thirty five rupees for an hours drive aboard his vehicle en route Murree via Islamabad. His Weather worn face and piercing glare makes me wonder since when transport had become so inexpensive. As if reading my thoughts, he immediately demands another thirty five rupees to accommodate both me and my better half in his wooden slated, barred windowed, decorative coach.

As our means of transportation soared rapidly away from the hustled norm of Pakistan's capital to high mountainous peaks of Murree, We leisurely engross in the surrounding lush forestry portraying huge pine trees. The scenery reflected every travelers delight and inviting valley's swarmed with natural springs at an altitude of 2,240 Meters (7,400 feet) nurtured a sense of adventure and free will opposing my mayhem packed customary urban life.

Upon arrival in the rural city, we were caught up with hawkers competing between themselves and targeting us as potential customers seeking lodging. Tanned, toiling and weather beaten citizenry earned their means of living as shepherds, horse and cattle breeders and within busy market places sold jewelery, medicines, clothes, artifacts, air fares and decorations. Many also ran general stores, banks, churches and schools besides offering tourists rides to attractive sight-seeing places.

Best visited in April- May and September- October, Murree displayed the best of nature with white clouds graciously engulfing mountain crests and towering over green valleys below.

We booked a two-bedroom at the economical President Hills hotel, checked for hot water supply and operational heaters and after unpacking, headed towards a restaurant below to relish on famous local fast food burgers, Shammi kebabs and omelets.

After a hearty brunch, we inquired for camera batteries from a local shopkeeper and were suggested Mall Road as a famous market place above Murree hill tops, between Kashmir and Pindi Point. We decided to hike uphill and paused at a miniature roadside eatery sheltered beside a steel sheeted hut to buy 2 plates full of a locally preferred Chana Chaat. Just as we had begun to enjoy the spicy aromatic savory, a tremendous thunderous blast above our heads made our spines quiver. Our shocked facade brought a smile to the roadside hawker as he coyly informed us that a huge horse chestnut had fallen from a surrounding tree on the steel sheeted hut below which we stood.

At Mall Road, we were greeted by a variety of shops, book stores, souvenir kiosks, internet cafes, pharmacies, banks, post offices and cinemas. Renowned Pakistani restaurants crowded either sides of a lengthy narrow street and the enclosure evoked the British Raj, with its Christian churches, cemetery, spacious bungalows, clubs, cricket grounds and colonial-style hotels. The heart of the bazaar continued further along Kashmir Road and Massey Gate. Numerous routes departed outwards and either followed the contours of the ridge or descended to the principal road. After some necessary purchases, we headed back to our abode to doze away our aching weary limbs.

Awakening to a chirpy cold morning, we freshened up and hastily threw on our garbs to visit Pindi point, a famous tourist spot for riding chair-lifts passing down 1.5 km into the wadis. Upon arrival, our minicab driver bellowed to the chair-lift operator who was none the less pleased to welcome us. Chair lifts from Pindi Point travel from Bansara Gali (below Murree) to Pindi Point or to the top of Patriata Hill (on the road to Karor). Both rides cost approximately rupees fifty and take half an hour with a change from open chair-lift to the enclosed bubble in the middle. Once air bourne, strong fragrance from huge blue pine trees inflated the ambience and breath-taking views with crossroads and vast landscapes enthralled our observance. At our descent we were greeted with shopping kiosks and a children's play area apart from another astounding view of the lush Patriata Hills.

My interest in the eminent Convent of Jesus and Mary failed to seize. We planned to visit it as our last quest but primarily revisited Mall Road to purchase customary souvenirs for our loved ones. After purchases, we once again embarked uphill to discover the extraordinary beauty of the Convent of Jesus and Mary. We swiftly snapped some spell-bounding pictures of the convent and rushed back to the hotel to pack our bags.

Murree is a writer's muse, a city packed with undiscovered and wild adventures. Our journey had been eventful and our overall budget, amazingly inexpensive.

Recalling our hiking in the wilderness when we had painstakingly etched our names on a downwards sloping chestnut tree trunk, we hastly promised to return in winter and unravel our name imprints from the same truck. Our next visit however amidst the winter's snow, would portray a different picturesque of Murree altogether. An adventure not to missed.

Whether I travel for work or vacation, I like to feel what it feels like to live there. If I'm staying in a hotel, I long to sneak a peek at what kind of home the average poor and middle class people live in. What do they eat for dinner? How early do they get up for work? How long is their workday? What do they do for fun? What kind of bed do they sleep in?

Anywhere in the UK, the lifestyle doesn't seem too different from here in the US or Canada. The main language is English, and it's not a third world country. And as much as they embrace American music and movies, they have their own culture to be proud of and to love and consume (unlike some other parts of the world eat up American products).

The people are so genuinely NICE! It's not a naivety, although it almost feels like it. They have a good, honest outlook on life with respect for others. Without certain jadedness I've come to expect.

What a refreshing way to communicate on a regular basis.

They have very good tea.

And eggs fresh out of the chicken into the corner grocery.

Cheeeese....

Single malt scotch.

Ale.

Haggis? Yes, I tried it. Twice. I liked it better the first time. Probably because it was a smaller dose with the sides oftatties and neeps.

Their 10 pence coins are easily mistaken for quarters (and these days are worth close to the same). That’s an issue right now for Americans and Canadians. A lunch that costs £7 is what we might pay here, if it were $7. But with the dollar what it is these days on the world market, it turns into a $15 lunch.

That puts hotel rooms at $300-$400 a night. So, if you live and work in the UK, it's not really a different cost of living. But visiting is another story.

I took some tours. The bus tour out to the boat tour of the "Firth of Forth" was £15. Comparable to a three-hour similar excursion here, $15 was appropriate. In fact, for me, it cost over $30. Now, was I going to let that hold me back? NO! Because, who knows if and when I would ever be back to see and learn something about this place again? I also took all four-city bus tours, a couple of them twice. Between different tour guides and my concentration, I learned different things.

The Dogs of Edinburgh

There doesn't seem to be a leash law (at least enforced) in the city. Along with all the people walking on the sidewalks, there were dogs moving along, unattended by a human, hugging the buildings, knowing enough about survival to stay away from the cars that were obviously driving on the wrong side of the road… These dogs had places to go, dogs to see. It wasn't a stretch to see them with a briefcase trotting along Wall St. (OK, it wasn't a stretch for ME).

I never saw one dogfight or a dog/human altercation. Of the 200 or so dogs I saw, four were on leashes. The whole month I was there I saw one pile of dog poop where it should have been cleaned up. The dog must have forgotten his pooper-scooper that day.

The Cats of Edinburgh

Cats are cats. They seem to have it together wherever they live. I didn't see them behind restaurant dumpers scavenging. Mostly they lurked and lounged in neighborhood yards full of flowers. And birds. I assume they were well fed. The birds were happy (while always on the lookout for those cats) flying in and out of those flowers. With the frequent light rain in August they are thriving and oh, so colorful. Colourful, spelled the UK way.

The Flowers of Edinburgh

You traditional folk musicians may know of the popular fiddle tune “The Flowers of Edinburgh”. It was one of the first I learned to play. One night a bunch of us went down to a classic Scottish pub where there’s a big jam session with fiddles, accordions, guitars, harmonicas, and more. Most of the people there were locals. Over the years of playing music and traveling I’ve learned about the great similarities - and differences – of regional folk music. “The Flowers of Edinburgh” has transcended many borders. We stumbled on to this tune to play as one we all knew. I had the sudden realization of why that song was written and passed down. It was more than just a folk tune. It had a beautiful meaning!

I’ve come to find out that Edinburgh, Scotland is many people’s favorite city in the world. It has everything that a big city needs and still keeps a small town atmosphere. There’s no comparing it toNew York, or Singapore, or Prague. Not because it doesn’t stand up, far from it. All of these cities have their own, distinct personality. It’s that Edinburgh’s personality has a oneness to it like no other.

Aside from its convenient location especially for travelers coming from the Asia-Pacific region, you will enjoy walking the streets of San Francisco, with its soothing and cool weather that is neither too cold as in winter time in New York nor too hot as in summer time in Texas. The temperature is almost constant at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit all year round. San Francisco is rich in history having been influenced by Spanish civilization and culture for many years. This shows in the images of its landscapes and structures that have been preserved for our generation and the next.

Walk around the streets of San Francisco or take the little cable car for a short down and uphill ride to the city. Either way, you will enjoy the sights of the city. Go to Fisherman's Wharf and feel the chill of the morning fog and the windy sea.

Climate and Weather

The climate for San Francisco is comfortable. There is sunshine 60 out of every 100 possible hours.

San Francisco average annual rainfall is 20.4 inches per year
San Francisco average temperature is 56.8 degrees F.
The average low temperature is 51.1 degrees F.
The average high temperature is 62.6 degrees F.
The average winter temperature is 50 degrees F.
The average spring temperature is 56 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 59 degrees F.
The average fall temperature is 61 degrees F.

Some of its famous tourist attractions of San Francisco are:

Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge was constructed in 1937. It has a total length of 8,981 feet with a longest span of 4,200 feet. It has a height of 746 feet and a width of 90 feet. The bridge was designed principally by Engineer Joseph Strauss, a University of Cincinnati graduate with the able assistance of Architect Irving Morrow and Charles Alton Ellis. Joseph Strauss led the construction team as Chief Engineer and in-charge of the overall design

and construction of the project in collaboration with the famous bridge Engineer Leon Moisseiff who acted as the principal engineer of the project. Although quite famous during his time as a major participant in the Golden Bridge Design Team, Moiseiff failed in one of his major design works, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which collapsed when it was hit by strong windstorm.

During the construction period, Charles Alton Ellis, not being a license engineer, was fired by Strauss because of his constant dependence on Leon Moisseiff on various technical matters. Strauss claimed that he spent too much time and money sending telegrams to Moiseiff to consult him on technical matters. During his time, Ellis became knowledgeable in all aspect of engineering and structural design. He did much of the technical and theoretical work that was contributory to the completion of the bridge. Ellis was a Greek mathematician and scholar who became a professor at the University of Illinois despite his having no engineering degree. After being fired by Strauss, having been obsessed with his work and unable to find work during the depression, continued to work on the project, without pay. He turned in volumes of hand calculations that were very useful to the project.

Strauss downplayed most of the contributions of his construction and design staff, with an eye for self-promotion and posterity. More that 70 years later, the City of San Francisco finally decided to give justice to Charles Alton Ellis, for his efforts and dedication in the design of the bridge, by giving him a major credit for the job as part of the original design team.

Today the Golden Gate Bridge stands as a monument of great achievement of dedicated people who, in one way or another, have contributed immensely to the successful construction of the bridge. Although the bridge is adored as a famous engineering achievement of mankind; it has also its downsides, one of which is the continued and uncontrolled suicides that happen almost every month by those who wish to take their own lives by jumping from the bridge. It is estimated that of the more than 1,200 of those who jump off the bridge, only about 26 survived, the rest dying almost instantly.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay area. It has an area of 7.6 hectares. The island was once used as a lighthouse, a military prison and as a Federal prison. Before it became a popular tourist destination that it is today, Alcatraz was a symbol of human cruelty in the guise of justice and social reformation. Alcatraz was a Federal Prison for hardened criminals in the middle of the 19th century. Al Capone the famous American gangster was imprisoned in Alcatraz stayed there for about four years until he was moved to another prison facility due mainly to his failing health. He was later found to have contracted syphilis. Another famous Alcatraz prisoner was Robert Stroud who spent 17 years of his life in prison until his transfer to medical facility in Springfield.

Alcatraz was finally closed as a Federal Prison in 1963 after 29 years in operation. It is now a very popular destination of tourists from all over the world. Today the island has attracted a number of birds as its habitat and breeding ground. Some of the birds and others animal species found in the island include western gulls, black crown night herons, slender salamanders and deer mice.

Fishermans' Wharf

Don't leave San Francisco without first visiting Fisherman's Wharf. It is San Francisco's most popular destination. The place is known for its historic waterfront, restaurants offering mostly sea foods, breathtaking sights of the bay and the island of Alcatraz and a host of other “must see” areas near the Wharf.

Within and nearby Fisherman's Wharf are selections of deluxe and budget hotels for the tired and weary travelers. There are available cable cars that ply the wharf route to downtown shopping area and other interesting parts of the city.

San Francisco Chinatown

The Chinatown in San Francisco is the oldest in America, having been established in the 1850's. San Francisco's Chinatown is so popular that there are sometimes more visitors in the area than in the popular Golden Gate Bridge. Most of the visitors that frequent San Francisco's Chinatown are travelers from the Asia-Pacific Region who are visiting for a couple of days as well as the local Asian residents who buy their daily food needs from the wet section of the market.

The San Francisco Chinatown is filled up with a variety of Chinese as well as Asian Food and general merchandise. There are just too many items of different kinds from all over the world sold at much lower price that those merchandise of the same kind and found in other parts of the city.

Pier 39

San Francisco's Pier 39 is a nice place to visit while in San Francisco. It is a premier bay attraction. A market place with over a hundreds stores, several restaurants and a variety of fun filled attractions for the young and the young at heart. This is also the place where you will find the world-famous Sea Lions. Also found here is the Aquarium of the Bay where you will see at close range a variety of fish species from the ocean deep.

There are other beautiful attractions that San Francisco offers including those found in downtown and in the outskirts of San Francisco

My advice to the first time visitor - please don't leave your heart in San Francisco...

Caramoan is a coastal town of Camarines Sur in the Southern Luzon corridor of the Philippines. It is host to a group of small islands with white sand beaches and unspoiled mountain ranges. The islands of Caramoan have remained pristine and undeveloped through the years mainly due to lack of infrastructure like roads and bridges that links the town to the other parts of the region. Caramoan town, in the recent past and during wet or rainy seasons, was isolated from the rest of the towns of Camarines Sur and connected only by sea lanes or water transpiration for its commercial survival.

This potential tourist destination has caught the attention of the regional as well as the national government of the Philippines when the crew of the well viewed TV series, “Survivor” visited the area and later decided to use GOTA Island, one of the major islands facing Pacific Ocean, as the venue for the filming the “Survivor” TV series. The executives of the production company as well as the crew and the cast must have been hooked to the beauty and serenity of the islands that they have in fact extended their stay to do more footage of the popular TV series.

Gota Island

For now, the islands part of Caramoan remained closed and off limits to tourists as well as the residents of the islands and vicinity. With the end of filming of the “Survivor” TV Series in the later part of the year, the pristine beaches and the beautiful islands of Caramoan will again be opened to the residents and visitors. And since these beautiful islands will be shown to the international audience with the showing of the “Survivor” TV Series, the people in Caramoan are preparing for the influx of international travelers and tourists who want to see for themselves the place where the “Survivor” TV Series was actually filmed.

Here are some of the smaller islands of Caramoan:

Here are some shots of the beach area:

Plans for Caramoan Peninsula

You will be surprised to know that Caramoan Peninsula will become a world class tourism destination in a few years.

Realizing its tourism potential, the provincial government of Camarines Sur has set in motion an ambitious plan to transform the Caramoan Peninsula into an upscale tourism site. This includes the upgrading and construction of a hi-way that will shorten travel time to Caramoan and a possible construction of an airport in the area. Plans have been drawn and finances have been secured to jumpstart the transformation of the area into a major tourist attraction.

You make your way out of the lobby and into the next hotel. The lady at the desk is ready to check you in, under the conference rate of $99 per night, a saving of over $200 to stay at the Hyatt instead of the Best Western across the street. What a great deal! The only thing is, is your conscience - are you going to tell her the truth that you are not in town for the conference? Heck no. Why does she care?

Believe it or not, hotels do cater to conferences and events happening in town. The discounts can vary, depending on how many attendees come into town for the conference. Take for example, the RSA Conference in San Francisco during the April 7 - 11, 2008. They estimate over 17,000 people will be attending, so they have negotiated with several hotels in the area and have come up with some pretty good rates. I've compared their rates with rates I've obtained using my traveller's search engine (which is a culmination of Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc.). Here's the comparison:

• JW Marriott - my price $319, their price $289
• Westin St Francis - my price $284, their price $249
• W - my price $440, their price $279
• St Regis - my price $469, their price $379
• Prescott - my price $323, their price $174

Depending on the hotel, you can save anywhere from 10-40% off. Don't feel bad that you are staying with them and not attending the conference. It's not like you're staying for free. You are a paid customer and a welcomed guest of the hotel.

If you're interested in being in San Francisco during this time, book a hotel of your choice by calling reservations and telling them you are attending the RSA Conference.

You can find great beaches on all the continents of the world. What you will choose will depend on your budget and also your time. If you want to go for a short vacation, choose a place close to you. If you want to go far, you should have enough time to spend on a resort in order to appreciate your holiday.

Before you go for the bookings make sure you are happy with your destination. These days, hotel bookings can be made on the internet. Look for the reputed websites. This way you will not get robbed. Also they will have holiday packages which offer big discounts off the listed rates.

The ticket prices offered by the different airlines vary. Budget airlines give very reasonable rates while the others are far too expensive. So get online and check the routes you would like to choose and get the best rates.

Some travel agents will be able to help you with the ticket as well as the hotel bookings. Some even offer bigger discounts for their travel packages than the respective individual ticket and hotel discounts. The travel agent also makes the job a lot easier for you.

Last but not he least, try to make your booking well in advance. This way you will be able to get the best value for your money.