Friday, April 15, 2011

Isle of Wight Travel Information

Isle of Wight Travel Information



Isle of Wight in the English Channel is a perfect destination for relaxing holidays, and its unspoiled nature with cliffs and gorges is ideal for outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and golf. Isle of Wight enjoys one of the warmest climates in the United Kingdom and is home to numerous clean, sandy beaches well suitable for water sports.

Sandy beaches and picturesque countryside – Attractions on Isle of Wight

Rich and beautiful in nature, the Isle of Wight has diverse landscape with lovely sandy beaches, cliffs, gorges and unique wildlife. It is here you can admire numerous fossils of dinosaurs found on the island. The islands diverse nature and picturesque countryside is ideal for horse riding, hiking on Isle of Wight and biking on Isle of Wight.
Rural idyll on the isle of Wight
Rural idyll on the isle of Wight

Long sandy beaches are without doubt one of the major attractions on the Isle of Wight. Ryde is the largest town on Isle of Wight with long clean beaches for sunbathing and water sports, such as windsurfing, kayaking, sailing, and paragliding. You can also go on unforgettable cruises on Isle of Wight. In the seaside towns of Cowes, Sandown, Snaklin, and Ventnor there are more sandy beaches. Cowes, in particular is a popular spot for sailing on Isle of Wight. You can also enjoy golf on Isle of Wight’s many great courses.

Attractions & entertainment. The magnificent Carisbrooke Castle and the Osborne House, the summer home of the late Queen Victoria are among the main attractions on Isle of Wight. The best opportunities for shopping on Isle of Wight can be found in Newport, the second largest town and the administrative capital of the island. There are numerous festivals on Isle of Wight, including the Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival, the Isle of Wight Festival and the Bestival. The liveliest nightlife on the island can be found in the biggest towns of Newport and Ryde.

Practical information for your stay on Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an island in the English Channel. Located in the southernmost point of the United Kingdom, the Isle of Wight enjoys one of the sunniest and warmest climates in the country.
The Isle of Wight is best visited in summer from May to October, when the weather is warm enough for outdoor activities and beach life.
Coastal town on the Isle of Wight
Coastal town on the Isle of Wight

How to get there. You can easily travel to Isle of Wight by ferries and boats from Southampton and Portsmouth in the mainland United Kingdom. The Southampton International Airport receives numerous flights from UK and Europe. There is an extensive system of relatively expensive buses on the Isle of Wight. Some limited train connections also exist. Car rental on Isle of Wight is a good option and easily available.
Osborne House Isle of Wight
Osborne House Isle of Wight

Services & safety. There are plenty of luxurious beach hotels on Isle of Wight, but cheaper accommodations such as guesthouses and camping sites can be found as well. In the fine restaurants on Isle of Wight you can taste for example freshly caught seafood. Isle of Wight is a peaceful, safe destination for visitors.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Yalta Travel Information

Yalta Travel Information


Ukrainian seaside resort in the sunny Crimean Peninsula with warm climate and good facilities for beach holidays, Yalta has developed into one of the most promising beach resorts in Eastern Europe. It is also a historical place where you can admire culturally and historically important sights and enjoy the beauty of the beautiful nature of the Crimean Peninsula.

Swallow's nest, Yalta
Swallow's nest, Yalta

Yalta, Ukrainian seaside city with active beach life and cultural attractions

Located in Crimea Peninsula in the southern part of Ukraine, Yalta is a summer city that is packed full of beach-going East European tourists during the summer season. Many come here to enjoy the sun and the Black Sea beaches in Yalta, which consist of small rocks, but in addition to that, Yalta has also other kind of attractions available.

The most popular sight in the surroundings of Yalta is the Swallows Nest, a miniature medieval castle set in scenic location on top of a high coastal cliff. Also a popular attraction in Yalta, Livadia Palace is a former czar’s holiday home, and Chekhov’s House introduces the building where the famous Russian writer created his legendary stories. Apart from the beach activities and cultural attractions, Yalta hosts also a water park, a popular zoo, and botanical gardens that are home to wide variety of Ukrainian flora.
Yalta seen from the sea
Yalta seen from the sea

Activities in Yalta. Sunbathing and water sports by the Black Sea are available, sure, and strolling down the Sea Promenade of Yalta, Naberezhnaya, you will find many attractions. There are also quite interesting opportunities for shopping in Yalta. Nightlife in Yalta is particularly active during the summer period. If you want something special, you could try for example wine tasting near Yalta, which introduce you the best of the wine making in Crimean region. For those wanting something greener, horse riding tours near Yalta might be a good choice, as well as trekking or mountain biking in the mountain regions found in close surroundings of the city. There is a cable lift to the nearest mountain, Ai-Petri. As Yalta used to be a health resort during the Soviet times, there are of course also traditional sanatoriums and spas near Yalta to be enjoyed.

Practical information for your trip to Yalta

Yalta enjoys a subtropical climate with sunny and dry summers and short, mild winters. Average monthly high temperatures during the summer, which in Yalta lasts from June to September, are around 25-30°C, whereas winters are familiar with temperatures of around 10°C or below.
Overall, Yalta is a summer city where tourism season lasts from May to October. Outside this period, the city is just a predominantly Russian-speaking coastal town, where you can get in touch with the local culture and life.
Sailboat in Yalta
Sailboat in Yalta

How to get there. Located in Eastern Europe in the southeastern part of Ukraine, Yalta is best reached through the nearby airport of Simferopol, but also other possibilities for travelling and flights to Yalta are available. However, if you choose to travel to Yalta through Simferopol, you will be given a chance to experience the interesting trolley-bus route between the two cities. For traveling around in the area of Yalta, you can find a great number of official and unofficial taxis, as well as minibuses, and rental cars in Yalta are also available.
Beach boulevard, Yalta
Beach boulevard, Yalta

Visitor services. Yalta is quite popular among holidaymakers from Eastern Europe, which is also seen in the services of the city. Local people are hospitable, and services are good if you speak Russian, but in case you do not, some problems can be expected. Much of the staff of hotels in Yalta, as well as that of restaurants in Yaltaspeaks only Russian. Safety situation in Yalta, however, is quite good, with the exception of thefts being quite common.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Songkran Festival in Bangkok

Songkran Festival in Bangkok


Songkran Festival in Bangkok
Date: 9 – 17 April, 2011
Venue: Nagaraphirom Park, and the Royal Temple around the Rattanakosin Royal Square, Bangkok
Songkran Festival in Bangkok
Songkran Festival in Bangkok
Experience the demonstration of the Songkran Festival in 4 regions, pouring some scented water to the Buddha Image, enjoy various tasty dishes and cultural performance at Nagaraphirom Park during 10-15 April, 2011 at 10.00-20.00 hrs. (the Opening Ceremony will be held on 9 April, 2011.)
Visit the Royal Temple such as Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Pho, Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn),
Wat Ratchaorasaram, Wat Ratchaphradit, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Bowornniwet, Wat Suthat, Wat Phraram Kao, Wat Chanasongkhram, Wat Saket (The Golden Mount), Wat Rakhang, and Wat Kanlayanamit. Moreover, partake in the Songkran Festival in Rattanakosin Royal Square and its neighboring (Bang Lamphu, Khaosan Rd., Phra Athit Rd., Santhichaiprakan and Wisut Krasat) (During 9-17 April, 2011, at 10.00-18.00 hrs. Please visit an information booth of each temple for getting a “passport” to collect the stamp of each temple for receiving a souvenir at Wat Pho.)
Songkran Festival in Bangkok
Songkran Festival in Bangkok