Hangout with Australia!

Sydney is Australia's famous harbor city and thee capital of New South Wales. Explore the harbor, beaches and inner-city precincts of this exuberant city. See dawn break from the top of the harbor Bridge or the sun set on the Opera House. Fine dine along the Woolloomooloo finger wharf or experience theater and dance along the redeveloped wharves of Walsh Bay. Australia's sixth largest city, and the second largest in the state of Queensland, the Gold Coast is where the 'bikini' was born. Along with endless stretches of golden beaches, there are international theme parks, designer boutiques, luxurious spa retreats, world-class golf courses, award-winning restaurants, upmarket bars and lively nightclubs.

Language:- English

Currency:- Australian Dollar

One thing you didn't know:-

The practice of naming hurricanes began early this century when an Australian weather forecaster named tropical storms after politicians that he didn't like.

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Must Do:-

Rides- Dream World

Dream World is the Australia’s best and favourite theme park. It is filled with variety of rides, attractions, and shows. There is never a dull moment here. Explore the park, get onto challenging rides, enjoy fun shows and relive your childhood. A unique experience and the best way to bond with your family and loved ones.

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Port Stephens Tour

Discover the unspoilt and diverse blue water paradise of Port Stephens. Just north of Sydney, this place offers a relaxed day set amongst the golden beaches, giant sand dunes and spectacular scenery. Cross the Sydney harbor Bridge and tour through the leafy and affluent northern suburbs. Travel over the Hawkesbury River, a holiday hub for boat lovers. Board a luxury cruiser and search for the pods of bottle nose dolphins – watch as they play on the bow waves or even ride the boom net! Be entertained with informative commentary and spectacular scenery of the bay and Tomaree and Yacaaba headlands. Experience the grandeur and tranquility of the local desert wilderness, and environmental and historical sights. Travel in modern comfortable 4WD vehicles and encounter the Stockton Bight. The Stockton Bight sand dunes covering an area of over 2,500 hectares along 32 kilometers need to be seen to be believed! While you are here try sand boarding, an experience you won’t forget!

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Wildlife World - Sydney Wildlife World

Get up close to Aussie’s animals in the heart of the city. See Rex, the huge crocodile in Kakadu Gorge, walk amongst kangaroos and emus in The Outback, and meet cuddly koalas in Gum Tree Valley, and more! Sydney Wildlife World features interactive displays, inspiring and entertaining daily keeper talks and enhanced walk through habitats including Koala Encounters, The Outback and Butterfly Tropics.

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Must Click:-

Sydney Opera House

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Captain Cook's Cottage

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Mrs MacQuaries Chair

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Must Eat:-

Spagetti Bolignese

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Fish and Chips

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Pavlova

Oman – A Paradise in the Arabian Peninsula

With its long history and rich culture, Oman, officially known as the Sultanate of Oman is located at the tip of the Gulf Of Oman just across Iran and off the shores of India.  Spread over a vast area Oman is home to a number of historical forts and palaces along with a beautiful flora-fauna and natural beauty.
The capital Muscat is a shy city located on the Gulf of Oman with proximity to the Strait of Hormuz.  There are a lot more things to be done in Muscat.  Muscat international is the only international airport in the country which is well connected throughout the world.

Places to visit in and around Muscat

Dolphin Viewing

Dolphin's !!

Muscat has some of the most pristine beaches located on its coasts.  Early morning drive out to the Marina Bandar located just off the most popular hotel in Muscat – Al Bustan Palace hotel, From here hire an boat for your family or just book a few seats as per your convenience and you are done, for an beautiful view of the Gulf of Oman and the most beautiful dolphins around.  We suggest you go out early in the morning since it’s the best time to spot this magnificent creature. Along the boat ride you shall see the Portuguese built fort, beautiful cliffs and mountains on the outskirts of Muscat.  For the ones who love snorkeling this is the best place, your boat driver shall take you behind the mountains where in shallow corals and fish are found.  Make sure to negotiate this with the driver at the time you book your sea trip.
The other option is a visit to the beautiful islands of Mussandam.  Mussandam is located on the other side of the border and requires to pass through the international border of UAE, do not forget to carry along your passport should you be interested to go to Musandam.  A jetty locally known as a Dhow would take you out towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Sink Hole

Way to Sink Hole.

Recently named as the – HAWAIT NAJIM PARK, Otherwise very famous among the residents as Sink Hole, is just a few Kms from Muscat on the Sur Road and right after a dibab village.  This interesting site was created after a piece of limestone carved in.  The beautiful waters which appear greenish in color are quite cold enough to beat the summer heat.  A picnic spot during the holidays, ensure to bring along your bathing suite, as you are sure to get tempted to swim.  There are change rooms available at the entrance of the park.

Do’s & Don’t for Sink Hole

Whatever, do not just jump into the water, the hole is deep by approx 20 to 40 feet though no official board is posted about the depth.
Make sure u carry enough food and water since there are no shops nearby except a few at the next town / village
Wear comfortable clothes, and shoes / slippers, there is a lot walking to be done to reach the hole up and down
Lastly do not forget to carry your camera in all the excitement!!

Qalhat

Again located on the Muscat Sur highway towards sur, is this beautiful ancient place of Qalhat where you can find an ancient tomb and a underground ancient place, worth a visit for the ancient history lover.

Al Hoota Caves –

One of the most marvelous, fascinating, extraordinary creation of nature, that I can’t put down my words to define the place.   A 4.5 km long lake below the magnificent mountains out of which only approx of 500 mts  which is made open to the public through various means, provides beautiful creations created by dissolution of limestone by acidic water over years and ages, estimated to be over 2 million years old.  Located at the foot hills of the Jebel Shams mountains, the cave has 2 lakes, the smaller one is the northern lake and the other, central lake forming the main part of the cave.

Other activities in and around Muscat -

Jebel Shams and Jebel Akdhar some of the most fascinating mountains in Oman, the temperatures can be a surprise to you during certain seasons which is opposite to the prevailing temperatures in the region.

Turtle Beach:-

Sur, a few hundred kms from Muscat is a beautiful place to watch turtles during the early morning walks and late night walks which are provided by the local resorts.
Nakhal fort / Ostrich  farm Barka are some of the other locations which are within reach from Muscat

Exploring Singapore & Malaysia

Singapore

 Some refer to her as the “little red dot”, but Singapore’s presence in the world today is larger than that. Today, Singapore is a major trading center, located on the tip of the MalayaPeninsula nd on one of the important ocean0based trading, routes connecting South Asia and Far – East Asia. Truly speaking, vacations in Singapore are filled with fun and frolic that never ends. The stunning beaches, skyscrapers buildings, elegant churches, historical museums and many alike easily entice the visitors from all over the globe. The rich heritage, diverse culture, historical landmarks and the cultural events and shows easily entice the tourists and these tempt the visitors to visit this beautiful country again and again.

Main Language: Malay & English              Currency: Singapore Dollar

 One thing you don’t know

20^th March 1948 Singapore held its first election

Must do

The Singapore Flyer

Must click

Merlion (Singapore)

Universal Studios (Singapore)

Malaysia

Malaysia, one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia has emerged to be a great holiday destination for the tourists the world over. Malaysia boasts of an endless range of attractions and activities that cater for the cosmopolitan shopper, cultural enthusiast, historical buff and nature lovers. Divided into Peninsular Malaysia in the West and East Malaysia, part of the Borneo archipelago, the country will allure tourists with the shopping experience of its modern cities, the splendor of its cultural arts and natural heritage of rich flora and fauna.

Main Language: Malay    Currency: Ringgit

Must do

Genting Highland

Sunway Lagoon

 

One thing you didn’t know

Oil palm plantations make Malaysia one of the largest producers of palm oil in the world.

Must click

PetronasTowers (Malaysia)

Fiji Delight!

Transfer in Style and for free at Tokoriki Island Resort Fiji

Save, arrive and depart the luxurious Tokoriki Island Resort. Fiji in true Hollywood style, with Tokoriki offering free return seaplane, helicopter, Ocean Charter or South Cruise transfers for couples staying seven or more nights in a Deluxe Beach Bure or a Sunset Pool Villa.

Guests can use a combination of the four transfer options to get them to and from the Resort. Arrive by helicopter and leave by rptivate seaplance, or arrive by Ocean Charter and depart by Halicopter a decision has never been so difficult!

Whatever choice is made transferring to an island resort has never been so easy, with all helicopter transfers departing from Nadi Airport or Denarau helipad and all water transfers departing from Port Denarau, with Tokoriko even supplying complimentary airport transfers to and from Denarau Marina.

This amazing deal is valid for travel from 01 December 2012 to 31 March 2013.

Captain Cook ‘Pamper Me’ Cruise Launched

For the first time ever, Captain Cook Cruises Fiji has established an extraordinary four night exclusive indulgent ‘Pamper Me’ Yasawa Island cruise onboard its MV Reef Endeavour.

The four night cruise departed Port Denarau on the 12^th June and included special guests including New Zealand fashion experts, Cheryl Polwart and Karen Matich. Giving more flavor to the cruise , the duo were joined by beauty expert, Debra Sadranu, who is the Managing Director of the South Pacafic Academy of Beauty Therapy and the Senikai Spas Fiji.

Passengers had the chance to share life changing fashion and beauty tips and also enjoy visits to Fijian villages, swim at deserted sandy island beaches, snorkel the colorful reefs and experience the warmth and friendliness to local Fijians.

Singapore Flyer

At 165metres the Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheel and offers spectacular views of the Island.

Singapore Flyer

On your awesome 30-minute Singapore Flyer ride you will see stunning views of Marina Bay and the Singapore skyline, plus tantalising glimpses of neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Singapore Flyer is a must-do in Singapore. Book your tickets today to ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible experience.

Why book this activity:-

•     The Singapore Flyer is a must-do in Singapore!

•      Breathtaking views of Singapore from the world’s largest observation wheel

•     The view stretches 45km and encompasses all of Singapore’s highlights as well as glimpses of neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia

With this ticket you can simply turn up any time before 6pm and skip-the-line!


The Singapore Flyer – Itinerary

The Singapore Flyer is located at 30 Raffles Avenue, Marina Bay Singapore. Please arrive at the Singapore Flyer 30 minutes before your flight time.

Take a breathtaking ride on the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel. Flights last for 30 minutes and you will share a capsule with other passengers.




The Flyer has a total height of 165m and exceeds The Star of Nanchang by 5m and the London Eye by 30m. You will see 360 degree views of Singapore’s spectacular skyline and Sentosa Island. On a clear day you should be able to see up to 45km away meaning you can catch sight of nearby Indonesia and Malaysia.

Please Note:- Must Take your Cameras. Otherwise you will surely frustrate.  :=)

Location:	Singapore
Schedule:	Start time: Your ticket is valid for entrance between 0830h (08:30am) and 2230h (10:30pm).

Could this be the Scariest Hotel Swimming ever ?

Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao’s swimming pool has an exceptional view, as the image above shows.

Part of the indoor pool, which perches atop the 24-story hotel, protrudes from the main building and is suspended mid-air. Its bottom is constructed with toughened glass.

This gives guests a delirious sense of swimming in the sky — they can see the street clearly down below while passers-by on Xiuyan Lu Street can see the swimmers way up above.

“I felt as if I was flying in the sky — I could also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Pudong from here … it’s so cool and wonderful,” a swimmer told CCTV.

“We wanted to provide our guests a unique swimming experience, and let them feel they’re vacationing even in a bustling city,” said a spokesperson from InterContinental Hotels Group, parent company of Holiday Inn.

While not splashing in the water, guests can enjoy Pudong urban views stretching as far as the Lujiazui skyline at the poolside lounge.

First of its kind in China

Exactly 30 meters long (about 98 feet), six meters wide (20 feet) and 1.5 meters deep (5 feet), the swimming pool is the first of its kind in China. It was designed by Singaporean firm Chan Sau Yan Associates, which helmed the interior design of the four-star hotel.

The Holiday Inn Shanghai branch said it gathered input from various architects and even aerospace experts while constructing this sky-high glass-bottomed water container to ensure its safety.
The hotel did not reveal the pool’s construction cost.

The 390-room, four-star hotel — which opened in May 2011, is located in the booming suburb of Kangqiao, which is some 22 kilometers southeast from Shanghai downtown and 30 kilometers west of Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

According to the staff working at the hotel’s gym, the swimming pool is open to hotel guests and a limited number of health club members.

Annual membership for the gym starts from about $2,400 per person.

Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao, 1088 Xiuyan Lu, near Henghe Zhong Lu, Shanghai.  Nightly rate: from $125, www.holidayinn.com

Do you know any cooler hotel swimming pools? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

Mountain Bike at the Top of the World in Whistler, Canada

 Whistler has become a global capital for downhill mountain biking, with its web of trails lower on the mountain. Now it has pushed the bike park into new territory, opening its first trail off the peak, dubbed Top of the World. We are among the first to test its rigors.

Top of the World begins on a steep decline over the back of the ski area proper. The grade at moments exceeds 20 per cent.

The switchbacks cut through loose rock and dirt, and the open alpine expanse is extraordinary. Single-track trails often flow through forests, on rooty, rocky ground. This high, it is a single-track fantasia, a vista of the jagged Coast Mountains and the iconic Black Tusk in the near distance, framing a photo Instagram could hardly make more perfect.

The initial descent of several hundred vertical metres – oh my goodness – offers sweeping views, but I keep my eyes on the ground. It is exposed territory, high on the mountain, where a fall isn’t just a little oops-and-dust-off. Up high, on steep ground, a simple fall could easily cartwheel into body-rending territory. So my ride, initially, is self-circumscribed. Finestone(Manager Mountain Bike)  had described the first section as “pretty gnarly” and noted the option to walk the bike through too-tough sections. “It’s a bumpy ride out on the rescue road,” he says. Without chagrin I choose caution, as the spectre of flying body-over-handlebars to a certain busted collarbone or worse washes away any worry of appearing cowardly.

The start of the trail is rightly designated expert, a double black diamond, even if most of the rest is intermediate. I am passed by a guided group of skilled riders in a “summer gravity camp.” As he passes me, carrying my bike on my shoulder, one rider blurts: “I’m not sure that guy should be on this trail.” Possibly true. But once I do humbly manage the first pitch, I’m on my pedals for the rest of the rip, first into the beginnings of the tree line.

Rolling through percolating wildflowers, intermittent stands of whitebark pine and flourishing bunches of spruce, the smell of forest burls up and explodes in my nose, an aromatic tincture. My unscientific conclusion: Spruce settles the nerves. Buoyed by the perfumed blast, we cover several more steep but less fall-and-be-crippled sections, before coming around the bend of the mountain’s peak. The valley emerges, Whistler Village and Lost Lake far below. We roll on, as the epic trail extends, a blissful daytime dream. The alpine recedes as we bounce and bang on a narrow road, the occasional pop through creeks of melting snow and happy splatters of mud.

Right now, Top of the World consists of half-finished, single-track sections connected by access road/ski trail, with work ongoing to complete the trail as one long single track. As we reach the bike park proper, Top of the World has covered five wonderful kilometres and a vertical descent of 700 metres, roughly half of the total from the peak to the village. The average grade was about 8 per cent.

It’s steep but not wildly savage, save for the earliest turns.

I guesstimate it would probably take a dedicated day or two in the bike park navigating tricky and technical black runs in the woods before I would feel comfortable in the saddle on the toughest turns off the peak.

Still, at the end, there is elation. Words from higher up the trail echo in my ears. After the first big pitch of steep switchbacks, where I walked, several summer gravity campers confidently made their way, led by a woman in her 20s, their guide. “Oh my God,” the young woman exclaimed, her smile beyond megawatt, chugging deep lungfuls of air, and exhaling: “This is amazing.”

 

The details

The Top of the World mountain-bike trail off the peak of Whistler Mountain opened to the public on July 28. It is open daily, as part of the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and the trail’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 p.m. on Friday and Sunday). Daily capacity is limited to just 100 riders. The cost is $15, on top of a $56 bike park pass, and space can be booked ahead of time.