Austin's Travel Blog

Traveling is the greatest means to unwind and to break the monotony of the everyday life. After all it is pure pleasure to travel and have fun with the scenic beauty and the charm of the new unknown places. Nevertheless, traveling can be troublesome as well, if you’re not cautious about your security. It is essential to take adequate safety measures when you’re travel-ling to unfamiliar places. Here’s a list of things which you need to keep in head when on a go.

Travel security starts right from the time you start packing your stuff. Attempt to stay away from carrying costly items. Even in case you’re going for a friend’s wedding, choose inexpensive imitation jewelry instead of real diamonds. Ensure that you do not carry any item which you just cannot manage to lose. Never carry originals of your passport, license as well as other essential documents. Rather, carry photocopies of all these important documents.

Taking care of your luggage is very crucial when you are traveling. Don’t abandon your luggage only even for a minute when you’re on a trip and remain with it till it is been examined. If you’ve kept your baggage on the floor; keep an arm or foot resting on it. Additionally, don’t put your home address on the luggage tag and in case you have, you must attempt and keep it covered or hidden from sight.

It’s a excellent idea to look prim and proper when traveling but if you are trying to show off your affluent streak, it may well have negative consequences. By wearing designer clothes, you’re only attracting thieves as well as other criminals. Attempt to dress as simply as likely. Stay clear of wearing gold chains, expensive watches, rings, designer watches and the like.

Be very cautious about the food and drinks that you have while traveling. A dishonest person could very well include some intoxicant to it. So, you should always refuse food or drink from a stranger. This is 1 principle, that ladies in particular should stick to.

Try not to be too predictable. In case you are following a set program when on a tour, the odds of you becoming a prey to criminals increase noticeably. Do not go to only a select cafe or only to a particular bar. Try to differ your routine as much as likely. Steer clear of coming and going at the same time. This will support you confuse any robber or burglar, in case you are being followed.

Your safety is in your hands, especially when you are traveling. Keep the already discussed tricks in brain and you can avoid your vacation from becoming a disaster.

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There are over seventy thousand pairs of penguins in Antarctica, and they walk around looking like they’re dressed for dinner and they own this entire land you are about to check out.

They must shoo away neighbors who get to close to their pebble nests, as well as chase off the seals and skuas who threaten their chicks. In their free time, they constantly care for their feathers. The fluffy down-covered brown babies chatter constantly, bumping their heads into their parents in a constant demand for food. The adult penguins are always supplying food. Once the female comes home with a belly full of food, the parents perform a ritual of pecks and bows and then the father takes his turn at sea.

Believe it or not, there is nothing cute about penguins. They’re loud and smell bad, as well as aggressive little things. Even though this is true, they are still awesome to study in close quarters, which is one of the reasons why there are so many people deciding to visit Antarctica these days.

You can plan on seeing many more animals in Antarctica than just the penguins. A gorgeous background of sea and landscapes hosts animals like whales, dolphins and seals, as well as seabirds like albatross. You may see glacier spires that put some of the cathedrals in Europe to shame. The thrill of traveling to a place where few have gone before may appeal to you. Less people than fit in an average football stadium have visited Antarctica. Antarctica is the world?s final hinterland.

Making your way to this land is one aspect of the adventure. You can expect the trip to be exciting, as well as expensive. If you’re leaving from the US, most people take a 20-hour flight to the southernmost area of Argentina, Ushuaia. There are other places you can travel to in order to get to an embarkation point, like Punta Arenas, Chile, Christchurch, New Zealand, or Cape Town, South Africa. As soon as you make it to one of these cities, you are going to have another several days of traveling by cruise to make it to Antarctica.

Antarctica is bigger than the US and Mexico together, the continent of Antarctica is a land which is surrounded by ice shelves that are larger in area than North America, and it provides the Earth with over 70% of the fresh water of the entire planet. Once you choose your destination of Antarctica, you will be able to choose an itinerary of anywhere from 10 to 28 days. The ships that are taking you to Antarctica aren’t giant cruise ships, either, they’re much smaller. These ships also tend to be more informal than the usual cruises that travel the Mediterranean or Caribbean. For instance, instead of casinos you can go to, you will be able to attend lectures about Antarctica.

Once you are close enough to the continent, the ships will provide rafts that take the passengers to land that is close to penguin rookeries or scientific research stations where you can learn more about what the scientists are studying in the Antarctic.

Five different countries have research stations in Antarctica, but Antarctica has been decidedly border free and environmentally protected as per an international agreement to keep the country exactly as it is.

Some people harbor the concern that touring Antarctica is a serious hazard. Because of an airplane crash in 1979, the flyover tourism that was once offered is no more. Because more people are becoming curious about Antarctica, the fear is that it is going to become a much more lively tourist destination, which will endanger the fragile ecosystem. There are debates between scientists, environmentalists, and politicians as to whether the tourism to Antarctica should become a limited thing. There are two sides to the debate, and the first is the fight to protect Antarctica. Alternately, some feel that by exposing Antarctica to people, these people will become moved to involve themselves in its protection.

As of right now, there have been no restrictions placed on visiting the Antarctic. But everyone who visits is expected to follow some basic rules. You are not allowed to disturb the natives, and you should only take photos and leave footprints. When packing for the trip, you need to keep in mind to pack clothing you can layer. Although most of the ships will provide you with down filled parkas, you have to provide your own water proof boots, as well as several pairs of socks. You’re going to see the prices for items on the ship are extreme, so be sure you pack your own camera as well as sun block and sunglasses.

It is recommended that you visit this site for resources on antarctica travel. To find antarctica trip information see this resource.

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By Mario Fazekas

If we ask visitors to African National Parks what would they most like to see on their safari, the answer is usually a unanimous ‘lion or cheetah kill’!

We have been visiting South African national parks for over 16 years and we had not seen a cheetah in the first few years as we used to race around the parks checking the animal sighting boards at each camp and then race off to the sighting area, only to find… nothing!

Our strategy then changed to stop and watch any animal – just enjoying their behavior – and we found that our predator sightings increased and now when we visit the Kalahari we are rewarded with cheetah sightings every time.

In this article we share three of our experiences of photographing cheetah kills in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and provide some important lessons for other visitors.

Sighting number one…

We watched an entire sequence in the Nossob riverbed of a female cheetah stalking a springbok for two hours and then chasing it, catching it – not by tripping it like we see on TV programs, but by jumping onto its back – killing it and then feeding on it with her cub, which she had hidden under some bushes during the kill.

The whole event took four hours and we were the only witness – even though at least ten cars had driven past us they did not even stop as they could see only springboks and not the cheetah that was hidden behind a tree or sand dune.

Sighting number two…

On this visit we had stopped at Tierkop waterhole on the lower dune road and we were watching some gemsbok. Suddenly my wife, Jenny, saw a cheetah lying in the shade under a tree. We knew the gemsbok was too big for the cheetah so we decided to just sit and see what would happen.

About twenty minutes later an ostrich family came walking past us and across the dunes. The cheetah had not moved… then suddenly he burst out of cover and sprinted after the ostriches. The mother and father ostrich tried to draw the cheetah away from the babies but the cheetah zeroed in on a baby and caught it.

Sighting number three…

We were staying at Urikaruus camp and woke one morning to find a cheetah mother and her two adolescent cubs drinking at the waterhole right in front of our cabin! We photographed them until they walked off down the Auob riverbed. We gulped our breakfast down, hopped in the 4X4 and drove down the Auob to see if we could find the cheetahs as we knew there may be a chase or kill.

After about thirty minutes we found them resting under a tree. We tracked them with our binoculars and watched them coming towards us. We could not see any prey for miles so thought there would be no chase when a herd of springbok appeared. We sat in anticipation, fingers glued to our camera shutter release buttons – but nothing! The cheetahs just watched the herd walk by.

We wondered if they had already eaten. Then another herd of springbok appeared and they too walked past the cheetahs when suddenly there was an eruption of hooves and dust – the cheetah mother had, in those few seconds, brought down a springbok! They dragged the carcass under a tree out of our sight where they fed on it.

The lessons to be learned here are:

• Be patient – nature has its own time.
• To obtain these types of unique photographs be prepared to endure uncomfortable circumstances. You can imagine how hot it was at all these sightings as it was summer in the Kalahari Desert with no shade!
• Don’t fixate on lions and other predators – learn to enjoy all animals. Keep in mind that springboks and other less exciting animals are the food of the predators and if you stop to watch the prey animal you may be provided with great photographic opportunities.
• Be alert for sudden action and keep your camera at the ready!
• When you are visiting national parks stop and speak to other visitors – you may not be able to see what they are watching and if you don’t ask you may miss the sighting of a lifetime!

Mario Fazekas is a wildlife photographer living in South Africa, and is the webmaster of http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com – Find out more about the Kalahari at http://www.kruger-2-kalahari.com/Kalahari.html

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Technorati Tags: Africa, Cheetah, Kalahari Desert, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, south africa

Costa Rica is a country that is filled with lots of beautiful touristic places. You can visit them when you are on a family vacation, a honeymoon or a trip with friends. That is why it is very hard to try to see them all in one trip so here is a list of the 3 areas that you can’t miss, specially if you are visiting this beautiful country for the first time:

Arenal

You will find Arenal in the northern region of Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste. The natural beauty of the Arenal area is perfect for relaxation and enjoyment. This is the perfect place to take pleasure in one of its many hot springs at the base of Arenal Volcano while delighting yourself with an amazing lava show almost every night. All of these of course at a safe distance.

You will find Arenal in the northern region of Costa Rica, in the province of Guanacaste. Here is where you will find the famous Arenal Volcano, one of the top 10 most active volcanoes in the world that rises 1,633 meters above sea level. This beautiful volcano is situated at the end of La Fortuna town. It has been active since 1968. You will also find in Arenal the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.

There a lot of tours available in the area for adventurous travelers some are: canopy tours, hiking, naturally heated thermal springs, canyoneering, caving and plenty of wildlife spotting.

Monteverde

It is located in the Puntarenas province. Here you will be able to experience the rich biodiversity of the cloud forests, living museums, canopy tours and Spanish schools. But for the adventurous traveler there’s canopy. Monteverde is also home to more than 100 species of mammals, 400 species of birds including 30 species of hummingbirds, 2500 species of plants and over 500 species of orchids. The best places to see them are the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve which is the largest privately owned reserve or the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve.

Monteverde is the only place in Costa Rica where all the parks are privately endorsed and protected. This place is full of nature, educational and living museums such as butterfly gardens, frog ponds and serpentaruims.

But for the adventurous traveler there’s canopy. As a matter of fact this is where the first canopy was built, along with hanging bridges high overlooking the cloud forest.

Manuel Antonio

If what you want is sun, crystal clear waters, restaurants, luxury hotels and spas, and relaxation? Manuel Antonio is the place to visit. Here you will find something for everyone. Here you will find the Manuel Antonio National Park and its beautiful beaches along with endangered and exotic wildlife.

Today, the docks in Quepos are used for the sport-fishing industry, which is one of the major attractions of this area. Here you will find the famous Manuel Antonio National Park and its beautiful beaches. But the best part is that you will get the chance to see endangered and exotic wildlife.

Marina K. Villatoro, has lived in Central America – Costa Rica and Guatemala for over 10 years. She’s traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. With her first hand experience, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!

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In this era of faster everything, including faster and larger commercial airliners where passengers are packed in like sardines, one thing seems to remain constant. That is the wonderful, leisurely world of cruising. For many years the airline industry has experienced numerous setbacks, while the cruise industry has been growing by leaps and bounds. There are many reasons why you should consider becoming a part of this amazing phenomenon. Here are some of them.

Some recent research from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), show that ninety-five percent of people who have cruised give top marks to their cruising experience and more than seventy-five percent plan to cruise again within three years.

Contrary to what some people might think, cruises are very affordable. With most vacations you end up paying for air flights, hotels or resorts, restaurants, entertainment, and sometimes car rentals. If you add all these costs up, cruises can be a real bargain. When you book a cruise, in most cases you pay for the airfare and cruise. However, if you live close enough to your cruise ship departure port, you may be able to drive there much cheaper than you can fly.

Even if you have to fly to the departure port you can always get a flight and cruise package deal which is usually less expensive than purchasing your flight and cruise separately. You’ll save even more money as your lodging, restaurant meals, and entertainment are all included.

When you book luxury a cruise vacation, more than 85% of your holiday is prepaid and that’s including all meals, stage shows, night clubs, movies, and entertainment, as well as many other activities and amenities. In addition, most ships have onboard activities such as swimming, scuba diving lessons that can lead to certification, golf, rock climbing, dancing, Pilates, yoga, and fitness trainers. You can also pamper yourself with relaxing spas and body massages.

Another way to save big bucks on a cruise is booking an inside cabin. If you don’t need to have a cabin with a balcony or ocean view, then you’ll save a lot of money. You have the use of all the amenities that are shared with your fellow passengers have, but it’s costing you a lot less.

You can also save a bundle on a repositioning cruise. A repositioning cruise is made possible at certain times of the year, usually in the spring and fall, when the cruise lines relocate their ships from one area of the world to another.

There are many luxury cruise vacations to choose from, ranging from three day mini cruises to several month long cruises as well as a fantastic around the world cruise odyssey.

When you’re cruising, you are traveling in the lap of luxury in a floating five-star hotel. You will be pampered and feel like you are living the life of a king or queen, not just for a day, but for every day of the cruise. Gourmet dining, elegant surroundings and impeccable service are only a few of the superlatives that can be used to describe cruising.

If you like delicious food you will certainly love gourmet meals and scrumptious desserts prepared by incredible chefs and served in a variety of restaurants. There are also huge, delightful buffets available throughout the day and even midnight buffets. There are a number of themed lounges located throughout the cruise ships for your convenience.

Love watching Broadway style shows as well as theater performances without having to make reservations or pay exorbitant prices for tickets? Then going on a cruise is the answer. There are so many things that are included on cruises which make them such an incredible value for your travel and entertainment dollar.

From small children to great grandparents, there is always something to peak the interest of everyone on a cruise. You have the option to be as active as you like or you can just relax and experience magnificent sunrises and sunsets while watching the world go by. So many precious, wonderful memories and experiences will stay with you a lifetime when you’ve taken a luxury cruise.

Feel like partying around the clock? That’s not a problem. Whether you’re with a partner or single, it’s always party time. You don’t even have to plan or even clean up after a party, only have a lot of fun!

Businesses from all over the world book conferences, seminars, team building get-togethers, product launches and employee reward vacation cruises. Cruise lines don’t charge extra for conference room facilities and use of audio/video equipment.

Group cruises aren’t only for companies and business people. Weddings and honeymoons, family reunions, sports groups and clubs, charities and fund raisers are only some of the many types of groups that have their events on cruises.

On cruises there is no hassle of having to pack and unpack over again every time you travel to a different destination. Another bonus is that there’s no limit to the amount of luggage you can bring along on a cruise.

People with disabilities should not have problems getting around on a cruise ship. Cruise lines have made onboard accessibility a non-issue because their ships are equipped with ramps, elevators and easily accessible cabins and state rooms.

Today’s cruise ships have drastically reduced the problem of seasickness. Modern, larger ships slice through the waves instead of riding on the top of them. Also, innovative new technologies like stabilizers and counterbalancing systems have dramatically reduced the pitch and roll of the cruise ships, all but neutralizing the problem of seasickness.

A physician and medical staff are never more than a few minutes away on cruise ships should passengers need to see doctor. Most common passenger ailments and minor mishaps happen less on cruise ships than on shore.

Cruising is one of the safest modes of travel. The cruise industry has an excellent safety record. And as far as assaults and robberies are concerned, they’re over a hundred times less likely to occur on cruise ships than in your own home town.

For people who have a fear of flying or are not fond of being crammed like sardines into commercial airplanes when traveling to their destinations, here is some great news. The cruise lines in the U.S. A. are making terrific headway catering to cruise passengers needs. They are opening up more ports of call on both the West and East coasts so more and more people who would love to take a cruise but don’t care for flying, can easily drive or take a bus or train to most departure ports.

To quickly locate and book cheap cruises, for the best price possible, whenever you feel like traveling, go to Travel Tips Guide, for more information.

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