Sta Travel

On STA Travel you can select the continents your interested in traveling to and create a RSS feed of cheap flights that fly to those continents. This site is geared towards student travelers who don't have rigid schedules to adhere too and is a great opportunity to find good deals. You may not know you wanted to visited Paris, but for $490 round trip, how could you not?

Art of Travel

"How To See The World... On $25 A Day On Less!" This website, written by a veteran traveler, is a great resource for how to save money, how to pack, what not to take, where not to go and how to get by on the cheap, you must see this website.

AirNinja.com

Air Ninja is a great flight finder, the way the engine works is you can input your city, and destination and Air Ninja shows you only discount Airline Carriers who fly to and from these locations. Air Ninja only shows discount carriers, so if you can't find a discount carrier going to where you want, you may be forced to book through Travelocity or other brokers.

OneBag

To quote the website "The art and science of traveling light" This website is a great resource for anyone traveling, no matter where your going or for how long. And not just tips on packing but what to bring, what to wear and how to get around. Even the veteran traveler can learn why not to bring cotton towels and the many uses of a clothesline.

Hostels.com

The ultimate database of hostels worldwide. You can book through their website and read reviews. Nothing beats staying in Tokyo for $13 a night.

Couch Surfing Project

Listings of free places to stay all over the world. FREE. Yes FREE. This is great for travelers looking to cut cost. Don't worry about ending up in a undesirable situation, you can do your research of the places you'll be staying. This is also a great way to see the real hot spots of a country and not just the touristy locales.

Fare Compare

Fare Compare allows you to search numerous air ticket sales websites at once and compare them easier than going to each site and imputing your search in over and over.

The breathtaking scenery to view the world's highest peak may very well be an emotional high. Unfortunately at this time we know of some 200 deaths and the mountain is their final resting place. If you are so inclined to visit try trekking, anywhere from 9 days to 25 days, is a well-planned program. There are icy river's rocky trails and suspension bridges to cross. It is a wonderful way to see the Himalayas. You follow the guide and although it can be a little rough at times it is a wonderful adventure.

If that is not your cup of tea try skydiving. This also is an opportunity to see the world from on high about 2 miles high above the Delaware valley. The parachute ride takes from 4 to 6 minutes and the instructor is with you all the way.

There is white water rafting trips on the Hudson Gorge. This is one to look into. If one is not ready for the upper gorge there is available in the spring and fall the middle Hudson gorge. Either one is very exciting.

Or try sailing Alaska explore fjords, sheer granite cliffs pristine water whales glaciers and spectacular scenery. It is truly beautiful.

Vermont has some wonderful mountain and rock and ice climbing. Information 8608812780 this is not for the faint hearted.

Scuba diving in Florida or the Bahamas is wondrous to see the life beneath the water the coral reefs and the schools of colorful fish.

There are few places if any left on earth -unexplored man has covered them all. Its was wonderful the find the Victoria Falls. When we first traveled to the Orient or Africa the discovery of the buried city after earthquakes the hope to find the missing link it was all new and different. Today the culture in many countries as well as customs and manor of dress imitates the western world. We can travel to China to see the great wall and find the influence of the western world. Still it is remarkable to see. What more is ahead with travel in space the big speculation? That will not be for me. This earth has so much to offer we need only to seek out the adventure that is most appealing for us. It may be as tame as paint by number or simply collecting shells from some foreign shore or collecting anything connected to lighthouses. Visit what is left of covered bridges here in the United States or if one is able visit the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Because as we grow older and time takes its toll on us we must settle for fewer and less adventure's but settle for sedate and hopefully not the old rocking chair on the back porch with nothing but memories. Well let them be good memories any way and if one is not able to be adventurous we can always read National Geographic.

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It is said, the night has a thousand eyes. I thought it would be nice to share with you the readers some of the landmarks of Egypt; it has many places and things to see.

One of my favorite landmarks is the Tower in the city of Cairo. You can see as far as the eyes will allow and pretty well in all directions. It is a freestanding tower, (187 meter) or (617 feet) high.

This concrete structure is located in the Zamalex district on Gezira Island in the River Nile.

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You can see by looking at the picture that it is a cool tower.

If you are ever in Egypt, you will want to visit some of its Universities, as they are a site to see. Cairo is considered the hub of education for the completely Arab world.

The picture below is of the Cairo University.

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You may also want to visit the Great Pyramids of Egypt; take in the history of them and pass it along to your children. They are really awesome and very rich with information concerning the culture and history. Students if planning on a field trip to these places would come away with many memories.

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Another of my absolute favorite sites is the Great Sphinx. If you are ever in Egypt, it is one of your top to do list. You will not regret it.

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You may want to take a tour deep inside one or more of the Great Pyramids also. You can learn a lot of ancient history.

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This is a great shot of the inside of one.

 

The Great Pyramids are also considered the world's oldest mysteries. There is still much history buried here and one day soon, I am sure we will hear of many new finds beneath the sands of Egypt.

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You may also consider visiting some of the tombs that belonged to the Kings.

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King Tut the ruler of Egypt tomb is shown above.

 

This is the face of King Tut and it is truly amazing. I hope you have enjoyed some of the wonders of Egypt with me. I loved writing about them.

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...

For the Adventure Buff

• Gliding in the most beautiful state of Himachal Pradesh.. the epicenter of serenity, the abode of the Almighty himself.
• Camping amidst the golden sand dunes in the state of Rajasthan alive with color and overflowing with the splendor and grandeur of royal living
• Mountaineering in the most hospitable state of Sikkim characterized by its unique culture and ever smiling people. The landscape will sweep your breath away!
• Adrenalin pumping water sports in the most tourist friendly state of Goa. The romantic beaches and the tingling cuisine are stuff to look out for.
• Skiing in the land of Paradise -Kashmir. The valley of unmatched glory and beauty resonating with music that feeds the soul.

Recommended Cultural Centers

Indian Culture has often attracted people of all ages to dive into its history and splendor. Life for people in India still revolve around their culture and tradition, often resonating in every day to day activity. It is as old as the civilization itself and binds the nation with a force like no other.

• Monuments of New Delhi

  The Red Fort , Taj Mahal and the numerous other towering Mughal Structures will bring alive an era long lost in the pages of history.

• Palaces and Forts of Royal Rajasthan

  The royalty of Rajasthan magically transports one into the lives of Kings and Princes, their grandeur and decadence

• Temples of South India

  The states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu are dotted with "larger than life" temples whose architecture and workmanship induce absolute awe

• Settlements in North East India

  They spin a surreal world , the intangible experiences of which can be felt for long afterwards.

When Subic Naval Base was converted into a Freeport zone by the then Mayor and now Senator Richard Gordon, through an enabling law, the rules on discipline as espoused by the Americans, were not changed and were in fact adapted and continued to be enforced by the local authorities. That is why; one would say that once you enter the gates of Subic Freeport, you are actually in an American territory. Traffic rules and regulations are patterned after the American system and are strictly enforced. Traffic enforcers are strict and cannot be bribed. All existing structures and utilities were made following US standards and specifications.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone is located in Zambales, Philippines. This place was once the home of the largest American Naval base in the world. In 1992, the US abandoned the Naval Base after the eruption of nearby Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the largest volcanic eruption in over 100 years that practically covered the entire naval base with ash fall causing a significant numbers of buildings inside the base to collapse. This American Naval Base was the home of the US 7th Fleet. The last ship, USS Belleau Wood left in November 24, 1992, signaling the end of the American military presence in the Philippines.

Subic Bay today is home to some of the world's blue chip companies including Hanjin Shipbuilders of South Korea, FedEx, Acer, Hitachi, etc. A Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean Industrial Parks were constructed inside the Freeport industrial area and are now home to some of the world's biggest exporters of electronic and other manufactured products to the world.

The Freeport has a complement of topnotch infrastructure and accommodations facilities. The Zone is host to a large Naval facility and a topnotch airport that were originally constructed by the US Armed Forces. Aside from hotels and retirement facilities, the Freeport offers private homes that you can actually own or lease for 50 years for a very reasonable price. These housing facilities were used by the officers of the US military establishment during their tour of duty in the Philippines. Condominiums and Townhouses are likewise available for sale or lease to foreigners.

Among the facilities and amenities inside the Freeport are fine restaurants, movie houses, hospitals, supermarkets, duty-free shops, casinos, hotels and resorts, first class beaches, ocean parks, Island resorts, etc. Outside of the Freeport are new first class villages and self-contained communities.

If you are a foreigner, the easiest way to start life in Subic is for you to avail of a retiree visa that is being offered by the Philippine Retirement Authority. You don't have to be a Senior Citizen to qualify so long as you are at least 39 years old when you apply. You can bring along your family and you can also work if you have an employer. The other way is for you to invest in the country by setting up a business inside the Freeport Zone. If you qualify, you can stay on as Zone investor and be entitled to various tax incentives and exemptions. There are of course other ways of making your stay legal like getting married to a Philippine citizen, obtaining a work permit, etc.

Subic is approximately 130 kilometers from Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. Travel time by car takes a little over one hour via the new toll way that connects Clark Freeport Zone to Subic in Zambales.

Places of interest nearby that are accessible by land and water transport are as follows:

• Hundred Islands, Pangasinan
• Mount Pinatubo, Zambales
• Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga
• Dambana ng Kagitingan, Bataan
• Corrigidor Island, Bataan
• Grande Island, Subic

Domestic and International Airlines serving Subic International Airport are as follows:

• Air Philippines
• Asian Spirit
• Southeast Asian Airline (Seair)
• Tiger Airlines (Singapore)
• Cebu Pacific
• Mandarin Airlines
• CR Airways

Arriving by train in India is even more of an occasion, and you could happily spend a month doing nothing else, whereas Delhi's Indira Ghandi Airport is like any other airport in the world, paranoid about security and mind-numbingly boring.

Travel by train is exciting, romantic, and an adventure. Some of the advantages it has over air travel are as follows:

• You get to keep your possessions with you at all times
• There are no unreasonable queues, having to show up three hours before departure
• You don't have to have a stranger run his hands all over your body before you board
• There is always something to look at through the window

There are others, but I've already convinced myself!

Some of the most exciting and adventurous routes I know of are:

• Istanbul to Aleppo (Syria), the original terminus for the Orient Express
• Delhi to Kolkota, most of it along the Ganges
• St Petersburg to Odessa on the Black Sea, via Moscow and Kiev

There are thousands more.

Check out Seat 61 for inspiration and information and let your mind run riot.

What makes Batanes unique?

One of the most notable facts about Batanes is its claim to a zero crime rate. Violent crime is unheard of on the islands and even petty theft is a rare occurrence. Visitors who misplaced or lost personal items are told to visit the local radio station in Batanes so that an island-wide bulletin can be aired. Locals who have found items are also likely to drop them off at the station.

Batanes' Honesty Coffee Shop, believe it or not, there is no one minding the store. Instead, a clear plastic jar is left on the counter for customers to pay for their snacks and get their own change. It works under the honesty system. Softdrinks, instant coffee, candies, biscuits, noodles, chips and other snacks are available. This is one of the many things that make Batanes a unique place to visit.

Here are some other things that make Batanes unique among other tourist destinations in the world;

Batanes is a special place. Isolated from the rest of the country, it has evolved into a truly unique destination - unlike any other island in the Philippine archipelago. Batanes is absolutely pollution-free. No traffic jams. All you can see are beauty of nature.

Unique architecture of Ivatan houses made of thick lime and stone walls with cogon grass roof has made it a favorite attraction to visitors. They were built this way to endure typhoons that frequently hit the area.

Batanes is made up mostly of hills and mountains. Lush greenery tapers off to give way to stretches of sandy beaches and rocky shorelines.

Batanes is suitable to hardy, outdoor types who enjoy hiking over hills and vales, swimming and discovering a unique local culture, rather than indulging in material pleasures.

The people are different - a brave and skillful race of hardy, inscrutable survivors. They are notable for their honesty, industry and hospitability.

The topography coupled with its constant rainfall and strong winds have created a destination that is truly one-of-a-kind. The weather is different. In fact, the weather is the king.

The boats, the language, the crafts, and the wine (called palek-from sugarcane) - they are all different.

Aside from the festive town fiestas, free and natural beaches, trekking adventures, bird watching in October or fishing in summer, there are a lot of other local attractions worth visiting such as:

The undisturbed and unspoiled Sabtang Island, with its sandy beaches and rugged country trails make it a secret paradise.

Historic Churches in every town which were over 200 years old made of massive mixture of lime and stone.

Radar tukon in Basco rests on the hilltop overlooking a 360 degree view of the cliffs, hills and the seas around the island.

And the Interior road, a trail of unending countryside panoramic views, rock formations and rolling terrain

Other places of interest in Batanes include; House of Dakay (1887) a UNESCO heritage building; Mt. Iraya - A 1008-meter mountain on Batan Island; Mahatao View Deck; Burial Caves - Pre-historic burial caves in the town of Itbayat; Sumhao Wind Power Plant; Nakaboang Beach, Ark & Cave; Songsong Ruins; Beaches - Chadpidan Beach, White Beach; and Payaman - known as "Marlboro Country", a pasture overlooking farm fields & the Pacific Ocean.

The best time to visit Batanes is from February to July.

1. Seeing new places makes you feel renewed. The first time I went out of town to go trekking and cave-hunting in Sagada, I was shocked by the sense of relief it brought me. I was like, “I'm not at home sleeping and letting the world fade off before me, I'm not in the office working like a dog! I'm in Sagada and having the time of my life!” You think I'm overreacting? Try it.
2. It makes you feel important. Traveling has always been mostly associated with people of the middle class. Since going out-of-town or in another country set ten thousand miles from home requires money spelled in capital letters, traveling is unquestionably a luxury. Because of this, whenever I travel, I feel elated, like I'm some important yuppie who earns more than enough to be able to afford a stay in a nice comfortable hotel in a town some people only get to see in the movies. Believe me, you need a dose of this pride every once in a while to keep you going.
3. It cures boredom and depression. Need I explain this? A new place always brings excitement and thrill, thereby killing that emerging sense of boredom you've been trying to push down your throat ever since you realized nothing special has happened to your social life in the past two years.
4. It bonds you with your special someone. If you've been going steady with someone for the past five years and one day you woke up thinking, “We need something to spice up our relationship!”, then traveling is the answer. Seeing and doing new things together bonds you with your special someone and rekindles the romance of a new relationship.

Whatever reason you may have for deciding to pack your bags and taking the next flight out, you're doing the right thing! Spur-of-the-moment travels have its own sparks compared to a well-planned trip, most especially if you're an adventure freak like me.

Go pamper yourself once in a while and stop being a spendthrift! And don't forget to take pictures that are Friendster-worthy!