Sipadan Travel Information | 12345 travel adventure (tips and guide)

Sipadan Travel Information | 12345 travel adventure (tips and guide)

Enjoying pleasant tropical climate, soft sandy beaches and clear blue waters with turtles, sharks, coral reefs and much more, Sipadan is a paradise on earth for divers. In the coastal waters of this small Malaysian island you can enjoy some of the World’s best facilities for scuba diving, or spend a day sun bathing on lovely beaches. As the island is a protected area, you will not be allowed to spend a night on Sipadan, but will be transferred here daily from Semporna by boat.

Sipadan, Malaysian diving paradise with coral reefs, turtles and sandy beaches

Small island off the east coast of Borneo in Malaysia, Sipadan is covered with thick rain forests and surrounded by sandy beaches and astonishingly rich marine life with turtles, sharks, coral reefs and much more. Thanks to the pleasant surroundings and tailored services, the island is known as one of the absolute hot spots of the world for scuba diving and snorkeling, The conditions on Sipadan are just right also for sun bathing and making long walks along the sandy beaches that circle this protected island.

Divers in Sipadan Island waters

Protected area. A diving paradise with long traditions, Sipadan has been made a protected area, due to which you will not be allowed to spend a night on Sipadan, but will be transferred here daily by boat from Semporna (in Mainland Borneo) or from resorts on the nearby Mabul and Kapalai Islands. For the same reason, snorkeling and diving in Sipadan is allowed only against a special permit obtained from dive operators. As daily permits are limited to a certain number, diving in Sipadan is hoped to maintain its unique draw also for the future generations. For reasons other than diving, snorkeling, sun bathing and exploring tropical nature, Sipadan has no specific attractions to offer.

Batfish in Sipadan coral reef

Practical information for your trip to Sipadan

Sipadan is a small island located in Malaysia off the east coast of Borneo, near Tawau, which is also the place with best connections for travelling to Sipadan. The island was formerly disputed between Indonesia and Malaysia, but was officially made a part of Malaysia in 2002. The kidnapping of foreign tourists from Sipadan by the Abu Sayaaf rebels took place in year 2000, but today Sipadan is a much more peaceful and safe place.

Services in island resorts. As Sipadan was placed under Malaysian control, the vulnerable marine ecosystem of the island was placed under protection. With this decision, all resorts on the island were closed, but diving in Sipadan maintained to be possible under a special permit. In search of hotels near Sipadan, you will therefore have to choose your holiday haven from alternatives found in Semporna (mainland) or in nearby island resorts. The same goes also for restaurants near Sipadan, and as for nightlife and shopping, Sipadan has no attractions available, but you will find some services in Semporna as well as in nearby island resorts.

Making dinner in Kapalai Dive Resort, Sabah

Weather. Whatever the season, the charm of Sipadan never disappears. The island enjoys tropical sunshine and average monthly high temperatures of around 30 degrees all throughout the year. The best time to visit Sipadan is between April and October, which means outside the rainy season. The water temperature in Sipadan ranges from 26 to 30 degrees Celsius all year round.

Shanghai Travel Information | 12345 travel adventure (tips and guide)

Shanghai Travel Information | 12345 travel adventure (tips and guide)

Shanghai is the largest City in China and the eighth largest in the world. Famous for its riverside scenery, skyscrapers, Chinese art schools and shopping opportunities, Shanghai is a multicultural mix of the East and the West, also called “Paris of the East” or “Queen of the Orient”. It has interesting architecture with influences from many European countries.

Queen of the Orient, Shanghai lives up to its reputation. Besides being a busy metropolis and an important international financial center, Shanghai has became an attractive tourism destination during the 1990s. The city is situated in eastern China in the Yangtze River delta, along the East China Sea, and is split in two by the Huangpu River. The older part of Shanghai west from the river is known as Puxi and the modern eastern side that is the financial district is called Pudong.

Shanghai city skyline

Shanghai sights and activities: shopping, nightlife, museums & modern attractions

Shanghai has plenty of attractions to keep you busy during your visit. Apart from vibrant nightlife in Shanghai, the city has plenty of of historic and religious buildings such as Longhua and Jade Buddha temples, as well as nice representatives of various architectural styles. The Bund area along the riverbank has a rich collection of 1920s architecture, and there are many former foreign concession areas with well-preserved European-style buildings. The old city center also still has some traditional style buildings. The modern skyscrapers in Shanghai have unique style with the highest floors resembling flying saucers.

Shanghai's busy pedestrian shopping street, Nanjing Road.

Sightseeing & activities. There are several available sightseeing tours in Shanghai, but it is also possible to see many of Shanghai’s sights by walking. There are great opportunities for shopping in Shanghai, as well as many museums, including a prominent art and history museum that has some of the best collections of ancient Chinese artifacts in the world, a major art museum and a large natural history museum. There are several golf courses around Shanghai. There are also famous schools in Shanghai that teach traditional Chinese art, and modern art and design can be found in Tai Kang Road. Shanghai also has a large, modern zoo and Oriental Pearl TV tower offers great views across the city.

Shanghai travel information and practical tips

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons.

The winter can be quite cold here, and summer months are very warm. The amount of rain is biggest during early summer. However, you can visit Shanghai at any time of year and find plenty of activities there.

Shanghai market street in Yuyuan Shopping Area

Travelling to Shanghai is easy for it is one of China’s main travel hubs. The city has a busy international airport withflights to Shanghai from all over the world, as well as extensive rail and bus connections to elsewhere in China. Shanghai has a good public transport system with subway and buses. There is also a very fast and modern Maglev railway system for local and regional transport. Road traffic in Shanghai is less chaotic than in Beijing, and taxis are cheap and widely available. Renting a car in Shanghai is now also possible.

Services & safety. There is a wide selection of hotels in Shanghai, varying from large international chain hotels to smaller locally owned hotels and hostels. The multitude of restaurants in Shanghai offer a variety of Chinese and Asian cuisines, and Western food is also well available. Shanghai is a fairly safe city with very little violent crime. However, pickpocketing and sexual harassment are common on crowded places. Shanghai has high levels of aerial pollution that can be a health risk. Most people in the city do not speak English, but it is understood in the main tourist areas of Shanghai.

Information by http://www.happytellus.com

Sipadan Travel Information

Sipadan Travel Information

Enjoying pleasant tropical climate, soft sandy beaches and clear blue waters with turtles, sharks, coral reefs and much more, Sipadan is a paradise on earth for divers. In the coastal waters of this small Malaysian island you can enjoy some of the World’s best facilities for scuba diving, or spend a day sun bathing on lovely beaches. As the island is a protected area, you will not be allowed to spend a night on Sipadan, but will be transferred here daily from Semporna by boat.

Sipadan Travel Information

Sipadan, Malaysian diving paradise with coral reefs, turtles and sandy beaches

Small island off the east coast of Borneo in Malaysia, Sipadan is covered with thick rain forests and surrounded by sandy beaches and astonishingly rich marine life with turtles, sharks, coral reefs and much more. Thanks to the pleasant surroundings and tailored services, the island is known as one of the absolute hot spots of the world for scuba diving and snorkeling, The conditions on Sipadan are just right also for sun bathing and making long walks along the sandy beaches that circle this protected island.

Protected area. A diving paradise with long traditions, Sipadan has been made a protected area, due to which you will not be allowed to spend a night on Sipadan, but will be transferred here daily by boat from Semporna (in Mainland Borneo) or from resorts on the nearby Mabul and Kapalai Islands. For the same reason, snorkeling and diving in Sipadan is allowed only against a special permit obtained from dive operators. As daily permits are limited to a certain number, diving in Sipadan is hoped to maintain its unique draw also for the future generations. For reasons other than diving, snorkeling, sun bathing and exploring tropical nature, Sipadan has no specific attractions to offer.

Practical information for your trip to Sipadan

Sipadan is a small island located in Malaysia off the east coast of Borneo, near Tawau, which is also the place with best connections for travelling to Sipadan. The island was formerly disputed between Indonesia and Malaysia, but was officially made a part of Malaysia in 2002. The kidnapping of foreign tourists from Sipadan by the Abu Sayaaf rebels took place in year 2000, but today Sipadan is a much more peaceful and safe place.

Services in island resorts. As Sipadan was placed under Malaysian control, the vulnerable marine ecosystem of the island was placed under protection. With this decision, all resorts on the island were closed, but diving in Sipadan maintained to be possible under a special permit. In search of hotels near Sipadan, you will therefore have to choose your holiday haven from alternatives found in Semporna (mainland) or in nearby island resorts. The same goes also for restaurants near Sipadan, and as for nightlife and shopping, Sipadan has no attractions available, but you will find some services in Semporna as well as in nearby island resorts.

Weather. Whatever the season, the charm of Sipadan never disappears. The island enjoys tropical sunshine and average monthly high temperatures of around 30 degrees all throughout the year. The best time to visit Sipadan is between April and October, which means outside the rainy season. The water temperature in Sipadan ranges from 26 to 30 degrees Celsius all year round.

Anglers mourn death of “marriage wrecking” giant fish

Anglers mourn death of “marriage wrecking” giant fish

Anglers were mourning the death of a carp believed to be Britain’s largest freshwater fish, who tipped the scales at almost 32 kgs and was nicknamed “the marriage wrecker.”

Two Tone was found floating on the surface of Conningbrook Lake in Kent where it lived. It was believed to be about 45 years old and to have died from old age.

Anglers mourn death of marriage wrecking giant fish

The fish, named from its skin colour, was only caught once or twice a year and no more than 50 times in its lifetime which made him a prize catch amongst anglers across the country.

“It’s a unique creature. It’s genetically unusual. There’s no other fish ever grown to that size in this country,” Coningbrook fisheries manager Chris Logsdon said.

“Obviously it was the pinnacle of carp angling. It was the fish that everybody wanted to catch.”

It was the hours that some anglers spent trying to catch Two Tone that won the fish the nickname “the marriage wrecker.”

Angler Lee Jackson wrote a book called Just For The Record: My Quest For Two Tone about his battle trying to snare Two Tone which he won in the end.

“It really became an obsession to catch that fish. It took me fishing it in the spring, summer and autumn most weeks, fishing it for about 50 hours per week, and it took me six years. It was a pretty difficult one to track down,” said Lee Jackson.

Two Tone will be buried next to the lake next Sunday with anglers sending online tributes to the fish that got away.

How to rent a car in Malaysia

How to rent a car in Malaysia

Malaysia Car Rental Hire

In East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and Langkawi I will always recommend renting a car, but in Kuala Lumpur, it is better and easier to utilize the efficient public transport.

Will you be able to drive in Malaysia? If you’re an experienced, confident driver who can drive on the left-hand side of the road (same as Britain and Australia) and are willing to adapt to a foreign country’s driving habits, then you’ll probably enjoy the freedom of driving in Malaysia. Here are some tips on driving a car in Malaysia.

How to rent a car in Malaysia

Things to note when renting a car:

All drivers must show a valid driver’s license at time of rental. Additional drivers must meet the same eligibility requirements as the Primary driver.
The price you will pay for a car depends on the time of the year – check the Malaysia 2009 Events Listings.
Airport often has car rental that is cheaper than from the hotels (Personally I will never book in advance or from travel agents. You will pay twice as much). Getting a rented car from the airport will not only be cheaper and definitely much easier. You can pick it up when you get off the plane and drop it when you leave. No need to worry about a transfer from the hotel to the airport (which sometimes you have to pay for). You shouldn’t have to book ahead unless it is a major holiday.
Never take the first price they ask – Remember to bargain and haggle for it! The starting price offered will often be twice what they will settle for. There are numerous car rental desks and agents waiting around the doors to the airport.

Checklist before agreement:

• Whether rental inclusive of full fuel tank, and whether upon returning has to be a full tank; if not, what are the charges
• CDW-charge
• Drop off point(s)
• Breakdown service(s)
• Insurance – Take an IDL for insurance purposes. If you don’t they will still rent you a car, but you will not have insurance.
• Provision of a road map, with indications of petrol kiosks.
• Don’t rely on the pictures of the car offered. Check the actual car.
• Check tires and things like oil before you complete the transaction.

IMPORTANT: Photocopy your driving license and passport beforehand, so that you can use the copied versions, instead of giving them your originals, and allow the staffs to go somewhere to photocopy them – with a photocopied passport, one can register a mobile phone line, and if it is used for unhealthy avenues, you can get into troubles with the authorities. Make sure to cross with diagonal lines and state for car rental purposes only (with car rental company name).

From my general fact findings and asking around, a Perodua Kancil can be rented from low of RM25/day to RM60/day. Also the rates are dependent on how many days of rental. Then, there is the new Perodua MyVi, which current going rental price is around RM50-RM60/day,and this is still a fairly new model,and you could be lucky to rent one with a low odometer reading, then again these folks are shrewd enough to tamper with the odometer spring and pinion,which drives the meter to click at each engine revolution.

Other information:

• Road signs are generally easy to recognize though you have to learn a few Malay words, e.g. AWAS. Here are some commonly used words on Malaysia road signs.
• Parking is normally not a problem. Ask the locals for direction to use the prepaid tickets. Parking coupons should be displayed on the dashboard.
• Driving is on the left-hand side of the road in both Singapore and Malaysia.
• Seat belts and child seats are mandatory.
• Head lights must be on between 7 PM and 7 AM.
• Driving in rural areas: watch out for the water buffaloes sleeping on the road at night.
• What to do when stopped by traffic police for a traffic offence – the price is usually RM300 for a speeding offence. Check with the car rental agency whether they can help with remittance of the fine, of which, must still be borne by you, as stipulated in their terms and conditions.

5-Day South Island Tour from Christchurch

5-Day South Island Tour from Christchurch

5-Day South Island Tour from Christchurch

July 28th, 2010 admin

See all the highlights of New Zealand’s scenic South Island on a five-day guided sightseeing tour. You’ll travel by coach from Christchurch to Queenstown, experience the majesty of Milford Sound, view the glacier at Franz Josef and travel aboard the famous TranzAlpine Express train.

Your five-day exploration of New Zealand’s spectacular South Island begins with the stunning scenery of the foothills of the Southern Alps and a lunchtime visit to Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. After spending the night in Queenstown, you’ll take an unforgettable cruise on majestic Milford Sound, surrounded by rock walls scarred by glaciers rising vertically from the sea.

You’ll have a day free to explore Queenstown on your own, then travel along New Zealand’s most stunning highway to the World Heritage Westland National Park. The route up the West Coast takes you past soaring mountain ranges, native forests and lakes to the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. A “living river of ice”, the Franz Josef Glacier is more than 7,000 years old and a must-see for any visitor to New Zealand.

On the final day of your South Island tour you’ll travel along the rugged West Coast to Shantytown, a faithful reconstruction of a Westland gold-rush town. You’ll also stop at Greymouth, the center for thousands of diggers during the historic gold strikes of the 1860s. Your five-day tour concludes with a trip to Christchurch aboard the famous TranzAlpine Express, one of the top 10 train journeys in the world.

Mount Hutt Skiing Packages from Christchurch

Mount Hutt Skiing Packages from Christchurch

Take advantage of this Tailor-made package, offering you the opportunity to ski at Mount Hutt! Sitting high on the eastern rim of New Zealand’s awesome Southern Alps, with a stunning backdrop of snow clad peaks and staggering views across the patchwork quilt of the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean, Mt Hutt captures the essence of the New Zealand skiing experience.

Mt Hutt arguably the best ski field in the Southern Hemisphere, because of its light dry powder snow which makes it a playground for skiers, in conjunction with its long season and reliable snow coverage. Mt Hutt also offers modern snow making facilities, giving the mountain a season from the beginning of June to the end of October.

Skiers Package Day Trip with Lift Pass:

• Transportation to and from Christchurch
• Full Day Lift Pass (all runs)

Skiers Package Day Trip with Lift Pass and Ski Hire:

• Transportation to and from Christchurch
• Full Day Lift Pass (all runs)
• Full kit of recreational skiing equipment

Ski Evolution Package Day Trip, Lesson and Ski Hire:

• Transportation to and from Christchurch
• Full Day Novice Lift Pass (platters only)
• Full kit of recreational skiing equipment
• One ski lesson designed to meet the needs of the novice skier (1.5 hours)

Skiers Starter Package Day Trip, Beginners Lesson Package:

• Transportation to and from Christchurch
• Full Day Novice Lift Pass (platters only)
• Full kit of recreational skiing equipment
• Two skiing workshops designed to meet the needs of first time skiers (1.5 hours each)