Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, lying about 200 miles east of Trinidad. Formerly a British colony, Barbados gained self-governance in October 1961. The official language is English, with the majority of tourists coming from the US and UK.

For those used to the frantic pace of life associated with Britain, Barbados will come as quite a surprise to many. Bajans (as the locals call themselves) are well known for their incredibly laid back, easy going attitude and an infectious aire of optimism.

For those travelling from the UK or US, no visas are required. Recommended immunisations are for Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Yellow Fever. The best time to visit is during the dry season from February to May, but even the ‘wet’ season enjoys an average of eight hours of sunshine per day.

The local currency is the Barbados Dollar. In August 2007, the exchange rate is 4.03 Barbados Dollars to the British pound and 2 Barbados Dollars to the US Dollar.

Social attitudes, like administration and architecture, tend to echo the British provincial market town. Indeed, Barbados is known by many as the ‘little England’ of the Caribbean.

Bajan specialties include an excellent array of seafood, such as flying fish, lobster and sea urchins. Sweet potatoes, plantain, yams, avocados, figs and coconuts are some popular examples of local produce. For the more adventurous, try souse, which is boiled pig’s head or feet served with a pickle consisting of onion, parsley, cucumbers, limes and peppers.

Unsurprisingly, rum is the spirit of choice, which is used extensively in cocktails on the island. Banks is a highly recommended locally produced beer. Another local drink is mauby, a bitter-sweet drink boiled from tree bark.

Some trademarks associated with Barbados include cricket fanatics, elderly women in prim hats, calypso music, rum (of course) and a vibrant nightlife.

Essential experiences:

Taking a tram ride through Harrison’s cave, an astoundingly beautiful network of caverns and underground waterfalls.

Exploring the natural wilderness and lush tropical plants of Welchman Hall Gully or the cultivated botanical gardens of the Flower Forest.

Visiting the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, which features green monkeys, red-footed turtles, caimans, brocket deer, iguanas and agoutis. This is a perfect experience for the whole family to share.

Exploring the island’s coral reefs, which offer excellent snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities. Carlisle Bay, near, Bridgetown, has around 200 shipwrecks to explore.

Wandering around grand 17th century plantation homes and estate gardens.

Visiting the Rastafarian market held at Temple Yard, Bridgetown.

If visiting in mid-July, the Crop-over Festival is a must, which originated in colonial times as a celebration of the sugar cane harvest. There are calypso competitions and fairs around the island, culminating in a carnival-esque costume parade of Kadooment day, which is always held on the first Monday of August.

Hong Kong was once a sleepy fishing village. But, with the arrival of the British in 1842, it became a crown colony of the United Kingdom, which continued until 1997, when the British handed it over to China, after signing an historic agreement by the then prime minister of the UK, Margaret Thatcher, and the then Chinese President, Deng Xiaoping.

The city has now become one of the vibrant destinations in the world, apart from being a prominent economic center in Asia. The World Tourism Organization rates the city among the 15 most preferred tourist destinations in the world. Al though a part of China, Hong Kong is quite different from rest of the nation, and has its own government and legal systems, monetary policy, and immigration policy. Situated in Eastern Asia, bordered by the South China Sea, it is made up of three areas, such as, the Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories as well as the Outlying islands including Lantau Island, Lamma Island, and Cheung Chau Island.

The center of economy, entertainment, and politics – Hong Kong Island is considered the heart of the special administrative region. Stretching from the Tin Hau to Chai Wan on the eastern part of the island is the prime residential area of the region. The northern part of the island is the main commercial as well as entertainment area, stretching from the Central District to Causeway Bay. Likewise, the southern part of the Island is home to some of the destinations that are abound in natural beauty, such as, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay and Ocean Park, which is one of the top-most theme parks in Southeast Asia.

However, most popular among the destinations in the island is the Peak, the highest point on the island that is perched at an altitude of 554 meters. The Peak serves as a perfect base to have a bird’s eye view of the whole of the thriving island as well as the spectacular Victoria Harbor, which is one of the three natural water harbors in the world.

One of the most popular ways to reach the Peak is to take a ride on the Peak Tram, which runs from the city center and reach here within seven minutes. Another stunning landmark of the island is Bank of China Tower – a soaring 70-storeyed building. In addition, situated on the southwest coast of the Island is the Cyberport, a high-tech facility supporting the multimedia, telecommunications, and IT industries.

The island is also much famed for its destinations including Aberdeen, a traditional village inhabited by hundreds of fishermen. From traditional style Chinese boats to most sophisticated boats, an amazing variety of fishing boats can be seen here. Further, located here are the HK Convention and Exhibition Center and Golden Bauhinia Square, which stands as a symbol to memorize the Return of Hong Kong to its motherland.

Kowloon is an exciting part of the city, and is considered one of the prominent industrial and commercial hubs of the nation. It is also home to one of the busiest airports in the world, namely, Kai Tak international airport. A ride on Star Ferry from Kowloon across Victoria Harbour to the Island would be a great experience. On utilizing the excellent options rendered by Kowloon, the city has now become a prominent shipping center in the world.

A visit to Hong Kong is incomplete without touring its amazing attractions such as Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank (HSBC) Building, Exchange Square and the International Finance Centre, Victoria Park and the Hong Kong Central Library, The Fringe Club and the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Happy Valley and Sha Tin Racecourses, and Murray House.

Attractions in Hong Kong also include an array of Buddhist as well as Chinese temples including Man Mo Temple, Chi Lin Nunnery, Wong Tai Sin Temple, Che Kung Temple, and Tin Hau Temple. In addition, included in the landmarks are a range of museums, such as the Arts Centre Pao Galleries, the Racing Museum, the Film Archive, Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, and Sheung Yiu Folk Museum.

Gastronomy – The city boasts of a variety of excellent options to satisfy your gastronomic needs, with restaurants providing cuisines, ranging from Japanese, French, and Italian to Asian and Chinese cuisines.

Shopping – Fabulous choices are available in the city for a great shopping, with a variety of shops on such happening areas as Stanley Market and Temple Street.

Also referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’ the city provides excellent options to cater to the accommodation needs of all types of tourists, no matter you are a budget conscious traveler or a luxury lover traveler. Many of the hotels and resorts are located within the heart of the city, and hence are within easy close proximity to almost all top tourist attractions.

Pattaya is a beautiful sea-side resort destination, situated along a breathtaking bay on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, in eastern Thailand. Located about 140 km east of Bangkok, Pattaya was once a fishing village, which has been now transformed into one of the most sought after vacation spots in Southeast Asia, providing an incomparable variety of attractions and activities, ranging from sightseeing to recreational and fun. In short, Pattaya is truly a paradise that caters to every type of tourist.

Pattaya’s prime attraction is undoubtedly its fantastic beaches. Most significant among the beaches is North Pattaya Beach, which starts from the Dolphin roundabout. Another popular beach is Middle Pattaya Beach, acknowledged as the ‘beach of fun.’ The beach area is dotted with an array of shopping malls, boutiques, and bars and restaurants. Located next to the Middle Pattaya Beach is another great beach, namely, South Pattaya Beach, with a range of exciting night clubs and discotheques.

Other popular beaches in the area are Jomtien Beach, Wong Beach, and Koh Lan beaches, located about seven kilometers off the Pattaya shore. Each of the Pattaya’s beaches is clean and safe, and provides a great atmosphere to relax and unwind.

However, Pattaya’s attractions are not just confined to its beautiful serene beaches, but beyond that. Spread across 40 acres of lush green area is Million Years Stone Park and Crocodile Farm, a zoo with a variety of crocodiles. In addition, it has such attractions as 200-year-old bonsai trees and several gigantic stones. Also, an interesting attraction in the island is Pattaya Bottle Museum, exhibiting ships in bottles as well as other strange items. In addition, theme parks are aplenty in Pattaya, such as, the Pattaya Water Park Beach Resort.

Other fantastic attractions in Pattaya are Khao Pattaya, a small hill located south of the Pattaya Beach; Ko Khrok, an islet surrounded by amazing rock formations; Ko Sak, a small island that takes after a an upturned horse-shoe; Mini Siam, which boasts of magnificent replicas of incredible architectural works such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Democracy Monument, and the Statue of Liberty; and Panarak Park with superb fishing facilities.

As it is home to an incredible variety of beaches, Pattaya offers superb options to enjoy a range of such activities as sand castle building, beach tennis, kayaking, parasailing, water skiing, and snorkeling. With three international standard bowling alleys, Pattaya offers great option to enjoy bowling. A visit to Pattaya would be incomplete without taking a tour to the Pattaya Elephant Village, featuring daily life of elephants as well as their masters, apart from providing opportunities to a range of activities such as elephant riding and hand feeding elephants.

For horse riding enthusiasts, a school operates here with more than 30 horses as well as an indoor stadium. Similarly, if you are a golf freak, then head to any of the four golf courses in the area with international standards.

For those who want to explore the sheer beauty of the island, then one of the best ways is to take a pony trek along the beautiful hills and forested areas of the region. If you are looking something unique during your stay at Pattaya, then suitable options are available to you in the form of paintball competitions. Likewise, if want to have something interesting, then head to any of the boxing camp or professional training camp in order to spectacle amazing Thai boxing.

Above all, Pattaya offers a range of activities for kids, including bungee jumping, go-karting, and fishing.

Nightlife – With a variety of nightclubs, karaoke, and bars and restaurants coupled with live music and dance performances, discos, cabarets, Pattaya’s nightlife is truly vibrant.

Gastronomy – From spicy, traditional Thai dishes to Chinese, Thai, Italian, Indian and French cuisine – the restaurants and eateries in Pattaya caters to every type of dining. Also, worth mentioning are the sea food specialties available in restaurants, located along the South Pattaya and Jomtien beaches.

Accommodation – The growing number of vacationers in the region has led to a significant increase in the number of Pattaya hotels. You can choose from a range of hotels, ranging from budget accommodation to luxury ones. Majority of the hotels and resorts are placed along the beautiful beaches of Pattaya.

Bora Bora is such an enchanting island destination that words are not enough to describe its magical beauty. Situated about 150 miles north-west of Tahiti in the Society Archipelago, Bora Bora is much famed as a mystical isle of the French Polynesia.

About 17 miles away is the stunning South Pacific Island. This tiny emerald-green island is dominated by two majestic black volcanic peaks such as the Mount Otemanu and the Mount Pahia, which stand just out of the center of the island. The dramatic beauty of the island is further enhanced by its magnificent turquoise lagoons. Equally fabulous are its stunning landscape comprising lush hilly areas, green valleys, and superb beaches. In short, Bora Bora is truly a tranquil, unspoilt haven, which is considered by many as a wonderful fairyland on the earth.

Attractions and activities that can be enjoyed in the island are limitless. Like any other islands in the French Polynesia, Bora Bora is also a haven for water sports lovers. Options are available for a host of activities including swimming, scuba diving, catamaran cruising, and parasailing. For those looking for a unique experience in the emerald green waters of Bora Bora, then go for such water sport activities as kite surfing or fly surfing, deep sea fishing, jet skiing, and jet boating.

If you want to explore the picturesque beauty of the island, nothing would be better than taking a helicopter flightseeing, which in turn enables you to enjoy breathtaking views of the island, covering beautiful islands and towering mountains of the region. For adventurers, one of the best choices would be to take a half-day tour on a 4-wheel drive vehicle, which is a great way to come through rich flora, beautiful trees, and other scenic attractions that cover the island. Adventurers can also go for adventure activities including hiking, climbing, or circle island tour, which takes you through the 20-mile road that circles this amazing island.

There are also superb choices for fun lovers, in the form of eco and nature tours to explore the archeological sites in the region, horseback riding, lagoon excursions, and camping in some official spots.

Of the points of interest in the island, one of the most popular is ancient Maraes or temples found in the region. Another great attraction in Bora Bora is the Coastal Guns from the Second World War, and some of them are Matira guns, Fitiiu Point guns, Tereia Point gun, and Farepiti guns, each of with its own uniqueness.

No visit to Bora Bora would be complete without taking a tour to its exotic lagoonarium, with an incredible variety of rare marine species such as turtles, sharks, dolphins, and other tropical fish. However, visiting the lagoonarium is more than watching its amazing marine life. But, it is beyond that and it allows you to enjoy a range of other activities such as shark and ray feeding, picnics on a motu, and snorkeling at the Coral Gardens. Marine lovers can also make use of Aquascope, a semi-submersible watercraft to have a thrilling as well as a close view on marine life.

With these umpteen attractions, people from across the globe flock here year-round. The growing number of tourists has led to tremendous increase in the number of upscale hotels and resorts in the region. The resort boasts of more than 30 luxuriously appointed bungalows, each of them providing stunning views of the surroundings. What that set apart this resort from other islands is that it is situated on its own island, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters that change color throughout the day. This in turn allows the guests to enjoy the ultimate in privacy and exclusivity.

Further, its private island is quite expansive and include in it secluded bays and private beaches for intimate picnics, apart from enjoying a host of activities such as kayaking and surfing. For a great dining experience, the resort comes with some excellent restaurants such as Manu Tuki and Le Mako Bar. Bora Bora is also a much favored destination for wedding, and the resort offers some excellent packages for a memorable wedding as well as honeymoon in the island. In short, the resort is truly a private island paradise in Bora Bora.

If you are in the mood for a European vacation, you should really consider the area west of Naples in the Campania region of southwestern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. While the area is hardly undiscovered it tends to be less “touristy” than many other parts of Italy including Campagnia on the other side of Naples, namely Sorrento and the Isle of Capri described in companion articles in this series. If you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to visit Naples, described in another companion article in this series.

We’ll start our tour in Solfatara just west of Naples. Then we will head west to Pozzuoli and southwest to Baia. We’ll pop up north to Cumae. We finish our tour with some island hopping, first south to Procida, and then southwest to Ischia. The entire area is called Campi Flegrei (Fields of Fire) because it sits on molten lava. There is no reason to believe that volcanic eruptions are a thing of the past. And remember, the area is not far from Mount Vesuvius on the other side of Naples.

Solfatara is a semiextinct volcano whose most recent eruption was in 1198. Its name comes from the Latin sulpha terra for land of sulphur so you know what to expect. Solfatara is hardly attractive, unless you like to look at boiling mud. But as long as you stick to the path you should be safe. On the positive side the escaping vapors have been used for medicinal purposes since Roman times.

Pozzuoli is a fishing town that has become a suburb of Naples, hardly suprising given its proximity. The Greeks founded it in the Sixth Century B. C. Once the home of wealthy Romans, famous residents include St. Paul and Sofia Villani Scicolone better known by her professional name, Sophia Loren. Pozzuoli was damaged by volcanic eruptions during the Middle Ages and again in the 1970s. You’ll want to see the Anfiteatro Flavio (Flavius Amphitheater), Italy’s third largest, that held 40,000 spectators. It hosts evening concerts in the summer.

Baia was perhaps the greatest Ancient Roman resort of them all. All the big shots including Caesar, Nero, and Tiberius had a home away from home in Baia. Cleopatra was visiting when Julius Caesar met his untimely end. For many people part of Baia’s attraction was its thermal, mineral waters famous for their healing powers. Local excavations include the Temple of Mercury, the Baths of Mercury, the Baths of Sosandra, with the semicircular Theater of the Nymphs and a statue of Sosandra, the Temple of Venus, and the Baths of Venus.

Cumae was perhaps the first Greek colony on the Italian mainland, founded in the Eighth Century B. C. You’ll want to see Antro della Sibilla (Sibyl’s Cave) considered by many people to be the most romantic classical site in all Italy. This cave, almost five hundred feet (one hundred thirty one meters) long, was carved out of solid rock. According to legend Sibyl was a prophet granted almost eternal life (as many years as the grains of sand in her handful) but she sadly forgot to request eternal youth. As she aged she shriveled and shriveled; her body fit into a bottle that hung from a tree. She interspersed her prophecies with pleas for death.

Most present Cumae is underground. Make sure to see Lago d’Averno (Lake Avernus), a volcanic crater lake that the Romans considered the entrance to Hades (Hell). According to legend, birds flying over the lake would die from the poisonous fumes. It was on these shores that Virgil wrote The Aeneid. Let’s assume he didn’t inhale.

Right near the coast you’ll find Procida, a densely populated island with about eleven thousand people jam packed into two square miles. This is about one third the population density of Hong Kong but Procida is the most densely populated island in all Europe. Yet Procida is beautiful and relatively undiscovered when compared to the other islands off the coast of Campania. Try not to miss the Good Friday procession, an annual event since 1627. The island and its small fishing village Corricella were featured in the films Il Postino and The Talented Mr. Ripley, filmed in many Campania locations including the island of Ischia, described next.

We will finish our tour of this sometimes lovely area west of Naples at the island of Ischia, probably inhabited for thousands of years. Its almost sixty thousand inhabitants including thousands of German citizens most of whom make a living from tourism thanks to an estimated six million visitors a year. No, this is not one of the undiscovered gems that pop up from time to time. Over the millennia Ischia has suffered many conquests. Among the worst was in the mid-Sixteenth Century when the pirate Barbarossa devastated the island, taking four thousand prisoners in the process.

The Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) is Ischia’s most heavily visited monument. Actually it was built on a rock near the so-called mainland just a bit shy of 2500 years ago. In 1441 the castle was linked to the island by a stone bridge. The nearby beach is fine and its waters may heal your ailments.

The La Mortella gardens belonged to the British composer William Walton and his Argentinean wife Susana, 23 years his junior. It is home to several thousand rare Mediterranean plants. After visiting the garden you can climb the long dormant volcano, Monte Epomeo, bathe in the Giardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Gardens Spa), or take a short boat trip to the village of Sant&#8217Angelo on the southern coast.

What about food? Volcanic soil makes food tasty and plentiful and gives wine a special zest. The regional focus is on vegetables and fruits. Tomatoes are served every which way, including pizza and spaghetti of course. You should really taste the mozzarella cheese, made from the milk of water buffalo.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Nero di Seppia (Spaghetti with Black Squid Ink). Then try Coniglio all’Ischitana (Rabbit simmered with Tomatoes). For dessert indulge yourself with Strufoli (Honey Balls). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Campania wine. Campania ranks 9th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 64% red and and close to 36% white wine, as there is little rosé. There are17 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Only 2.8% of Campania wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. The G stands for Guarantita, and you’ll find three, the red Taurasi, the white Greco di Tufo, and the white Fiano di Avellino. I have tasted the Fiano and found it to be top of the line. A single DOC wine is produced west of Naples; the Ischia DOC whose region covers the entire island of Ischia and is made from a variety of local grapes. This wine may be red or white. The red may be dry or sweet, while the white may be still or sparkling. Frankly, I’d go with the Fiano di Avellino.

Gavin Hipkins: ‘The ISLAND‘ November 27 – December 13

French Polynesia is much famed across the globe as a South Sea Paradise, but the water surrounding the Bora Bora is incomparable even by the Tahitian values. Located about 255 km north-west of Tahiti and just about 50 minutes flight from Tahiti, the airport in Bora Bora is on a motu, from where you are required to take a boat to your accommodation place, which in turn is a great experience and makes you feel that you have truly landed on a paradise. Surrounded by a barrier reef, the island is noted for its incredible lagoon within which lie many small islets or motus.

A plenty of options are available to enjoy the neon-blue waters of Bora Bora. The majestic, tranquil beaches found here even surpass well-maintained pools. In fact, majority of the hotels and resorts in the region do not even provide swimming pools, since one to have would be just redundant. Hence, it is evident from this that Bora Bora provides superb options to experience a variety of activities, with its shimmering water filled with marine plant life and tropical fish. From parasailing and windsurfing to canoe and paddle boating, it is just a matter of naming it.

Of the activities that can be enjoyed in Bora Bora, perhaps the most popular is scuba diving. Its stunning lagoon boasts of huge manta ray. In deed, this makes it popular among the divers. However, marine life that can be seen in Bora Bora is not just Manta Rays, but beyond that and include such marine species as lemon sharks, gray sharks, turtles, moray eels, and schools of barracuda.

To swim along with these beautiful creatures is really a memorable experience. Further, since there is no current in the island, it caters to divers of all levels, with dive locations inside the lagoons for novice and more advanced ones outside the reefs. Some of the most popular diving sites in Bora Bora are Aito, Anau, Tapu, Muri Muri, Teavanui Pass, and Tupitipiti.

Snorkeling is another popular water activity that can be enjoyed in the island. Today, many of the resorts and hotels in the region provide excellent options for snorkeling. Coral Gardens on the southern tip of the Motu Roa is regarded as one of the best destinations in the island for enjoying snorkeling. Snorkeling would be a great experience for honeymooners and other vacationers staying in an overwater bungalow in the island.

Also, while at your stay at Bora Bora, enjoy such activities as deep sea fishing. A lot number of boat charters and other service providers are in the scenario for a great fishing experience. In most cases, they provide the expert services of guide who help you in catching a variety of fish species including Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Yellowfin Tuna, Jacks, Mahi Mahi, Skipjack Tuna, Trevally, and Barracuda. Al though, the climate is perfect year-round for fishing, the best time for this activity is between October through June. In order to catch big fish, the best time is from December to June, during which the water is warm.

Likewise, for unique experience, take lagoon excursions to enjoy the incredible sunsets by catamaran or through lagoon tours by outrigger canoe, kite surfing, or jet skiing. A not to miss activity in Bora Bora is the shark and manta ray feeding at the island’s superb lagoonarium. Other popular activities that can be enjoyed in the waters of Bora Bora are wind surfing, aqua safari, parasailing, swimming, beachcombing, and reef walking.

Apart from water activities, a myriad of other activities can also be enjoyed in the island, such as, 4×4 safaris, circle island tour, hiking, helicopter flightseeing, climbing, and a full day picnic on motus of the island. With a number of restaurants and eateries, dining options available in the island is simply sumptuous. Above all, Bora Bora has excellent choices for shopping, with outlets selling everything from much famed Tahitian black pearls to local arts and artifacts.

Today, majority of the hotels and resorts in the island provide excellent opportunities to enjoy a variety of activities in the island, along with accommodation, dining, and other facilities like spa. Some even have private islands to offer its guest ultimate privacy while others provide facilities for these activities as a part of a package. In most cases, equipments for water sport activities are supplied for free. Despite hotels, many other service providers such as charter boats and yacht providers are also in the scenario to make your holidays in Tahiti truly special and memorable.

Lombok is an exotic destination, located about 40 km east of Bali and west of the Sumbawa Islands, in the West Nusa Tenggara Province in Indonesia. Occupying an area of more than 4500 square kilometers, Lombok consists of several tiny islands, and looks like what Bali was more than 25 years ago.

The island can be easily reached from Bali through an enjoyable boat ride or via a 30-minutes flight from Denpasar International Airport in Bali. Lombok is made up of three administrative regions: Central Lombok, West Lombok, and Eastern Lombok. Mataram, located to the west, is the administrative capital as well as the largest city in the island. Lombok’s other prominent two cities are Selong in the east and Praya in the center.

Dominated by the magnificent Mount Rinjani, perched about 3500 meters above sea level – Lombok has more than a dozen of incredible beaches, and is much favored for its beautiful landscapes comprising charming mountainsides, towering volcanoes, swaying palm trees, and stunning bamboo plantations. The island, with its incredible sandy beaches, becomes truly magical when twilight sets in. In deed, Lombok is truly a paradise, and no wonder why vacationers including honeymooners visit this amazing destination year-round.

Most popular among the attractions of Lombok is undoubtedly its beaches, of which perhaps the most prominent is Senggigi. A perfect spot to relax and unwind, Senggigi is an awesome beach resort area, boasting of an array of white sandy beaches as well as safe swimming areas. The central region of Senggigi has some excellent spots for enjoying surfing. The vivid reef seen here forms shelter for a variety of rare species of marine life. In addition, its elegantly shaped coral makes it an excellent spot for snorkeling. Senggigi also provides superb facilities for activities such as canoeing and boating.

Excellent beaches are also found in the Gili Islands, located off the north-west coast of Lombok. An archipelago of three stunning islands such as Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan, Gili’s each island features superb white sandy beaches, picturesque coral reefs, azure blue water, and multi-colored fish, all of them making it a great spot for activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling. Gili Islands are much popular among the westerners as well as travelers looking for a secluded island experience.

Another unbelievable beach in the island is Kuta, situated on the south coast of the island. During the low tides, the beach becomes a shallow water pool with turquoise blue water, thereby making it a haven for swimming. Tanjung Aan and Gerupak are the other popular beaches in the area.

However, the attractions in Lombok are not just beaches, but beyond that. Many of the prime attractions in Lombok are centered around its capital city, Mataram, which is also the seat of administration of the island. Mataram has something for everyone. For instance, if you are an art and culture lover, then take a tour to the Mataram main square, where art exhibitions and puppet shows are organized. Sightseeing options are also aplenty in Mataram, and just few among them are Karang Bayan Traditional Village, Narmada Park, Mayura and Bale Kambang, and Mayura Water Palace.

A plenty of sightseeing options are also available in Lombok cities such as Cakranegara, which is regarded as the commercial center of the island and inhabited by Chinese and Balinese communities. The focal point of the city is the Paru Meru, the largest temple in Lombok. Many of the restaurants and outlets found here are owned by Chinese; hence this city is sometimes referred to as the Chinatown. Also, a popular city is Ampenan, a port town which is home to the only airport in Lombok. Not to miss attractions in the city are the Water Temple of Pura Segara on the northern shores of Ampenan and the Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat museum.

Lombok has a great number of hotels to cater to every taste and budget. For those who want to experience the tranquility of Lombok in luxury, then some excellent choices are available in the form of upscale hotels with rooms appointed with top-end amenities. Some hotels provide packages inclusive of sightseeing and facilities for enjoying a continuum of activities such as trekking, snorkeling, diving, golfing, and surfing. There are also hotels providing superb packages for conducting beach weddings in Lombok.

The third largest island in Thailand, Koh Samui is a tropical paradise, situated in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea, about 85 km east of Surat Thani and 700 km south of Bangkok. Bestowed with natural scenic surroundings, spectacular as well as diverse flora and fauna, wonderful beaches, magnificent coves and bays, amazing islets, and dazzling waterfalls, Koh Samui is truly a mix of all that are best in the country.

Since Koh Samui gives harvest to more than two million coconuts each month, the island is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Coconut Island.’ Until 1970s’ Koh Samui was only popular as a backpackers’ destination. But, Koh Samui has now grown to include a range of attractions and facilities to enjoy a variety of activities from diving, snorkeling, and sailing to trekking and hiking.

The major draw of the island is undoubtedly its coastline, endowed with pearl-like white sandy beaches and coves and beaches. Of the beaches in the island, most popular is Chaweng beach, which is the longest in the island.

The beach and its surroundings are a center for fun and entertainment. Further, the area is dotted with a range of world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs. Another fantastic beach in the island is Lamai Beach, which is much favored for its teeming nightlife. For a magical experience, take a tour to Bophut beach, whose surroundings are strewn with an array of old Chinese shops, superb gift shops, and eateries with sumptuous pizza.

Close to the Bophut Beach is Choengmon Beach, which is also a much sought recreational area. Likewise, for vacationers seeking solitude amid serene setting, then one of the best choices would be Maenam beach, situated in the north of Samui Island. Also, popular are Samui Beaches such as Big Buddha Beach, Taling Ngam, and Lipa Noi Beach.

With these spectacular as well as tranquil beaches, Koh Samui is truly a mecca to enjoy an array of leisurely and adventure activities such as para sailing, scuba diving, sea skiing, fishing, and sea canoeing. If you don’t want to indulge in any of the aforesaid activities, then simply take a stroll along the stunning beaches to experience its unrivalled beauty and elegance.

Apart from the activities that are revolved around its unparalleled beaches and shorelines, Koh Samui offers much more. Thai cuisines are regarded as among the best in the world. Hence, become an adept in Thai cooking by taking advantage of superb Thai cooking courses rendered by some of the excellent restaurants in the area.

If you are looking for something different while your stay at Koh Samui, then head to the nearby stadium to spectacle amazing Thai boxing, which includes five rounds of three minutes each. Likewise, if you don’t mind some violence, take opportunity to spectacle such traditional activities as buffalo fighting. One of the best options for fun lovers would be monkey show. Further, nothing would be better than a hiking or trekking trip for those interested in exploring the natural serenity of the place, comprising lush green vegetation, verdant hills, and brilliant waterfalls.

Above all, Koh Samui’s sightseeing options are aplenty, with a range of unusual as well as refreshing attractions. Probably the most significant of the Koh Samui’s landmarks is Big Buddha, a temple whose focal point is a 12 m high golden statue of Buddha that can be seen even away from several kilometers. For nature lovers, a visit to the Butterfly Garden with hundreds of rare species of spectacular bufferflies would be a unique experience. Also, found within the garden are a bee house and a museum featuring some rare species of insects from across the nation as well as other countries. Similarly, take a tour to Samui’s Crocodile Farm to have a fascinating look on different types of crocodiles such as Siam crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, and Caimans.

Not to miss attractions in the island also include phallic rocks, which is popular among the locals as Grandfather Rock and Grandmother Rock; Lamai Overlap Stone, which is considered a challenge to climb this impressive boulder; Secret Buddha Garden, which is home to beautiful temples, statues, and waterfalls; Snake Farm, which has to its credit some of the most poisonous as well as scary snakes in Asia; and Samui Aquarium and Zoo. Equally marvelous are the temples or wats in the region, such as, Hainan Temple, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda, and Pagoda Khao Chedi.

From stylish sea view villas and bungalows to beachfront resorts and world-class hotels, all of the accommodation options in Samui are superb. Majority of them provide top-notch facilities including air-conditioned rooms coupled with en-suite bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, and dining room. Additionally, many of the villas and apartments offer maid service, apart from facilities such as superb swimming pools and complimentary airport transfers. Fantastic accommodation options are also available for budget conscious travelers.

With these incredible attractions and activities to enjoy, Koh Samui is truly a pearl of the Gulf of Thailand.

Yachts are seen as a luxury experience that are normally associated with rich people. The Greek yacht and shipping industry have been a strong business for over 10,000 years. Some of the most famous magnates of the twentieth century have used the shipping industry to make their fortune. The Greeks have maintained their passion for the sea, which is revered as the a beautiful element and believing it possessed Godlike powers. To this day they still use the sea for many explorations and have continued to keep the sea as part of their way of life.

Greek yachts are more popularly used for sailing holidays for younger people and families, travelling around the Ionian Islands. However, yachts have not always been used for vacations and family holiday explorations. Yachts were a very effective method of travelling on sea because of its lightweight build and fast sailing vessel. The Dutch Navy were commonly found to use them for capturing pirates, which were for a long time a major problem on the Greek islands.

History

The word pirate is a derivative from the Latin Pirata and the Greek Peiras meaning attempting and experience. Pirates were known as rebellious violent people who committed robbery at sea, they were more active and prominent during the early 17th and 18th century, particularly among the Mediterranean and Caribbean coasts. Though Greek yachts were not used to capture pirates, pirates had used their knowledge of shipping and sailing to invade the islands creating their own base.

Early pirate activities have been recorded to date back as far as Ancient Greek and Roman periods around 500 BC. Ancient Greek pirates used the Lipari Islands as their base for over 2000 years; Crete was the main homeland and haven for pirates for almost 800 years, until the Rhodeans had begun patrolling the Mediterranean Sea, with the sole purpose of removing pirates from the island.

Other Greek Islands that suffered from many pirate attacks were Paros and Corfu. Paros officials were forced to build fortresses around the island to prevent any further attacks, whilst the people of Corfu were pushed to seek help from the Romans. The Greeks and the Romans together had spent years fighting against pirates, and had successfully deterred many away from the island.

The pirates had built their own lairs in and around Greece, making life difficult for religious officials to build their monasteries in certain areas for fear of being attacked. Saracen pirates, had created their own base on the small island of Gavdos, where the inhabitants lived in fear secretly cultivating their field to avoid trouble. Locals avoided settling near the bay and sea, as this would normally attract many pirates travelling across the sea.

Some of the effects of pirate attacks are still evident in certain parts of the island. The narrow twisting roads and paths were built to further deter pirates off the island, and are prevalent for tourist attraction. Tourists today can even experience the slippery mosaic paths, which were made to slow down the movement of invaders and attackers. Pirates are no longer a threat in Greece, however the shipping industry is thriving even today and people can enjoy the historical remnants of what is left from pirate bases.

Why choose Hawaii for a holiday? If you are looking for a holiday destination which can offer everything then you must consider Hawaii.

Even the Hawaiian weather has something for everyone. The warm trade winds come in from the north east leaving a rainier and blustery side of the island while the weather is dryer and calmer on the other side.

The island is surrounded by ocean which is warm all year and suitable for water sports all year round. These islands are lucky enough to be placed so that it rarely experiences hurricanes, there are earthquakes, but even these are unlikely to be severe enough to upset your holiday.

Hawaii is more than just an island; it is a whole group of islands, each one with something special to offer.

Without the weather to worry about, what are you going to fill your days with? If you are a keen water sports enthusiast, then there will be more than you could ever possible manage in one holiday. The islands offer beautiful oceans for snorkelling and diving.

Due to the islanders understanding of their environment, they are careful to nurture the extensive coral reefs which provide homes for exotic wildlife and the perfect experience for divers, whether you are experienced or a novice. If you are looking to learn snorkelling or diving there is no more stunning a place for your first experience. The only problem will be that diving in other places afterwards will struggle to compete!

There are plenty of courses which can either be booked before arrival or through your hotel when you are Hawaii.

If you are more interested in hiking and on land sports then there are wonderful hiking trails which you can explore on your own or with one of the islands tour operators. This is a great way to see the island.

If you want to get a feel for the islands, but do not want to hike your way around there is another way -helicopter tours. These can be organized once you are at your hotel and have started to plan your time.

These tours will give you a chance to see what to expect from your holidays and at the same time you get to see the beauty of the island almost in an instant.

The Hawaiian Islands are forever associated with romance and hence are a popular destination for couples choosing to marry abroad. This popularity means that many of the islands hotels are prepared for weddings and offer packages for the bridal couples to choose from which will take a lot of the work out of organizing a wedding – the difficulty will be in the deciding what you want.

The climate of the Hawaiian Islands means that you can have the perfect weather for your wedding in almost every months of the year. Then of course you will need to decided if you want your wedding indoors or outdoors. All the options are there, the choice is yours!

Whatever you are looking for Hawaii can offer it! Many people believe that everyone should experience the Hawaiian Islands at some time in their lives. Book your holidays and enjoy!

Key West is the key to an ultimate romantic weekend getaway. Located at the southernmost part of Florida, it is the perfect venue for couples who want to break free from their everyday lives.

Although you can fly straight to Key West International Airport, choose Miami as a landing destination instead and begin your weekend getaway with a romantic drive along the US1 (nicknamed The Overseas Highway) over the vast waters. The drive gives you impeccable views of the ocean, and the wide variety of hotels, seafood restaurants, dive shops and boats that serve as a preview of how much of an amazing trip you are about to have.

Couples often prefer a quiet getaway for a romantic weekend. Make the most of each other’s company by spending the whole day at the beach, lying on the sand or swinging on a hammock with good food and good drinks. You can also take the seventy-mile ferry or chartered plane ride to the island of Dry Tortugas for an extraordinary diving experience, or simply enjoy the cool breeze brushing up your hair on a cruise ship. Spend some quality time walking around Key West. Enjoy strolling the palm tree-lined streets hand-in-hand with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend and watch the sunset.

Spend your romantic weekend at the luxurious Marquesa Hotel right in the center of the historic district. Just in the same street, the Eden House offers the same historic atmosphere with a more affordable rate. One of the essentials of romantic weekend getaways is to linger over local cuisine. On Duval Street, you will find many of Key West’s top restaurants for your romantic dining. On this strip, restaurants have an area with porches where you can just watch the world go by over a sumptuous meal and a glass of wine. These restaurants serve seafood as their specialty with fresh catches from the surrounding waters, served in many different ways. If you want your fish raw, the Japanese Origami is highly recommended. Other top picks include the Seven Fish and Bagatelle for those who prefer their fish cooked. Last, but definitely not the least, try the local’s long time favorite, Sloppy Joe.

If you are the party type of couple, on the other hand, you can take your romantic weekend getaway to Key West during the spring break and in November where fun is spread throughout the island. During the spring break, resorts and bars throw parties and promise everyone in attendance a good time. November activities, on the other hand, include the Halloween costume parties and the Key West Power Boat Race. Water sport enthusiasts fly in to Key West every year to witness this event.

Key West is said to be the haven of writers. Authors get inspired by the beauty of the island. Since the mood for this particular weekend getaway is romantic, visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum and explore the very walls where Ernest Hemingway wrote his emotional novels. Those fascinated to the underwater can have a self- or guided-tour at the Key West Aquarium, which features diverse exhibits of sea life in the Florida waters. Check the Aquarium’s daily schedule for feeding if you wish to have a close encounter with the sharks.

Whether you want it quiet and private or loud and wild, Key West has something for you to break loose from the routine. It is the jaunt perfect for couples who wish to unwind and relish a romantic weekend getaway.

Also famous as the party city of Europe, Ibiza a part of Spanish Balearic Islands situated in Mediterranean Sea. The island is quite a tourist destination for those looking forward to some partying and lots of beach. A holiday in Ibiza might start with party but has lot more to it, such as pine forests, ancient UNESCO acknowledged town, amazing village beauty and a great cuisine.

Ibiza is more of a summer destination with its beaches and nightlife being acknowledged by tourists. Following are some of the popular tourist attractions to visit when holidaying in Ibiza:

Hippy Market – Punta Arabi

This hippy market is present on the land of famous club Punta Arabi, Es Cana. The market near Santa Eulalia is held on Wednesday and offers a huge collection of goods, such as clothing, batik wraps, East-Asian ornaments and jewelry and much more. The market is also known to have some of the real hippies roaming around.

C’an Marça Caves This tourist attraction of Ibiza is surrounded with magnificent views and has temples, figures formed by stalactites and stalagmites as well as an impressive show of light and sound. The caves also have the facility of multilingual guide for all kind of tourists and visitors.

Galleria Van der Voort

Visitors and tourist when holidaying in Ibiza are often smitten by the beautiful collection of pictures and arts, coming from great artists.

Ibiza Old Town

Established around 2,500 years back, the old and ancient town of Ibiza, Dalt Vila, has been quite a tourist puller. Visitors on a holiday in Ibiza never miss opportunity of experiencing whitewashed houses, cobblestone streets with narrow designs and all of it surrounded with beautiful harbor. The town also has shops, galleries and markets to wander and to buy some souvenir for back home.

Scenic Tour Train Popular among families holidaying in Ibiza, this is a 2 hours of ride that takes you through the stunning view of countryside.

Museum of Archaeology

The museum of archaeology is situated in the old town of Ibiza and is know for its spectacular collection and Punic artifacts. Apart from artifacts of Arab, Christian and Moorish, some of the things one can’t miss in this tourist attraction are the collection ranging from Punic era, prehistoric sites of Formentra and Ibiza as well as 7th-2nd century BC sanctuaries of Cuieram and Illa Plana.

When on a holiday in Ibiza you can always found leisure in following ways:

Beaches

The summer island Ibiza has amazing line of exotic beaches making it an ideal tourist destination. From parties, nightlife, nudity to lots of sand and water, the beaches of Ibiza are always crowded with youngsters. Some of the best beaches are Playa Talamanca, Santa Eulalia, Figueretas, Playa des Cana, Cala Llonga and Cala Lena.

The waterline of Ibiza is also loaded with amazing water sports, snorkeling and diving. The island of Ibiza also has great sports facility and amazing Golf and Go-karting courses too. For those who need something more to take back from apart from the fun and excitement, try out the shopping experience in Ibiza.

Best time to visit or holiday in Ibiza

The best time to visit or holiday in Ibiza is the summer time, usually the island is crowded with tourists and visitors in the sunny, hot and humid months from May to October.

Jersey, one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel (in contrast to Jersey, USA), is a small yet beautiful island, perfect for a short holiday.

The island itself is as far south as France (St. Malo is less than 4 miles away and visible on a clear day) and so whilst still part of the British empire it benefits from far better weather.

This weather means not only an ideal place for camping, beaches and outdoor persuits but also you will see a profusion of plants and animals not normally seen on mainland Britain. Most notable is the only British population of the Green Lizard, often nicknamed the Jersey Green Lizard for just this very reason. Reaching around a foot long, and the males possessing a bright blue throat they are certainly a wonderful (if rare) sight to behold. Red squirrels can still be seen here for the eagle-eyed and dolphins may often be seen during the summer months.

Talking of beaches, whilst the island only measures a few miles long there are beaches for all ocassions. Long, sandy beaches perfect for surfing, more protected “sun bather” beaches and wild rocky outcrops covered in breeding sea birds. There are even some caves that only appear at low tide.

You can arrive by ferry or plane as Jersey is well served by both a safe port at St. Helier or an airport on the west side of the island.

Escaping from the attractive but busy main town of St. Helier, venture to the northern half of the island for the “true” Jersey experience. Rolling fields filled with Jersey cows producing thick, delicious cream. Farmers fields green with the tops of Jersey Royals – the finest new potatos around. Greenhouses filled with flame-red tomatoes. Foxglove-strewn laybys and meadows and the deep blue sea. There are also castles and fishing-boat filled coves to enjoy.

Jersey has a low national speed limit, plenty of narrow tracks and a “no caravan” rule making it a great place to walk or cycle, and an efficient local bus service covers the entire island. Exploring this small island is therefore safe, practical and incredibly good fun.

Other things to see here are the underground tunnels used by the Nazis during the war (the Channel Islands are as far north as the invasion got) and the world-famous Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust (or just “Jersey Zoo”!). It was here that a small boy fell into the gorilla pit many years ago much to the shock of his parents. Alive, but scared, rather than being attacked, the boy was watched over and looked after by the gorillas until keepers were able to extract him safely.

Personally, I like to camp though there are plenty of hotels around (less self catering accomodation though) of an international standard. Being a tax haven, Jersey boasts rich businessmen, private jets and Ferraris making it a more British Monaco. English is spoken, they drive on the left and they use the pound. There is, however, a lovely “French” feel in the style of the houses, many French place names and in the excellent quality of food available here – especially the seafood.

The Channel Islands also consist of Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, all of which can be reached by one of the inter-island boat services in operation over the summer months and day trips to France from here are easy to arrange.

Inside information

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, the land area is of around 543 sqm- which is about the size of Singapore with a population at the current standing of approximately 320,000 people. Apart from its famed beaches, you will notice how green and mountainous the island is. Vast expanses of lush vegetation and tropical forests stretch across the island, which weave between a rather spectacular mountain range that meanders from North to South. The highest of which is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Cains) at 529m above sea level

In historical terms, Phuket boasts of a deep ancient history, showing traces that early man existed there long ago. This has been keeping archaeologists busy for quite a while now, and will continue to do for some time to come. Tin was discovered several millennia ago on the island. They cannot pinpoint exactly when tin was discovered but cave drawings show that in ancient times, people did not mine the tin but found it, usually after some heavy rainfall. Phuket has long appeared on the charts of ships on foreign seafarers and marked as a good source of fresh water, firewood and pitch. The earliest settlers to the island were the primitive Semang Pygmie tribe that still exist in Malaysia today. These tribes were hunter-gatherers who fed from the fruits of the lush canopy rain forests of the island. It is thought that they lived there until they were forced out by tin miners in the mid-nineteenth century.

Pirates of Phuket

The coastal areas of Phuket were populated with the nomadic seafaring tribe called the Chao Nam. These were a small but sturdy race who were expert sailors and traditionally travelled from cove to cove feeding on shell fish, consuming all and then moving on. They were according to the first Europeans to arrive, pirates who robbed and stole and took slaves for transportation to Indonesia. It is said that tin mining was slow to develop here because of the pirate’s fierce reputation.

Affordable Tin, rubber and accommodation

Fast track a couple of hundred years, by 1972 the long recession in the tin and rubber industry paved way to a new industry, the tourism business. By the mid-70s tourists began to flock to Phuket, thanks to a glittering “Newsweek” article reporting on the undiscovered, beautiful mystical and affordable accommodation and hotels of Phuket. You now know the rest of the story…

Untouched

As ever, the beautiful palm fringed beaches of squeaky white sands that stretch for miles still remain. It is still virtually an untouched paradise, and a very special place to visit. Accommodation on the island is also very affordable and is available to all kinds of tourists, from honeymooners to families with small children. Karon beach is a long curvy beach of sparkling white sands and clear crisp azure sea. Karon beach claims fame to the Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa located at the southern end of the beach, accommodation is affordable and first class. Also available around Karon beach are the array of marine activities such as diving and snorkelling. Day trip excursions can also be arranged. Honeymooners who stay more than 4 nights may enjoy service at the Karon Beach Resort Hotels by receiving complimentary gifts upon arrival. While families who reserve a second inter-connecting room for their children can enjoy a 30% discount on the room-rate and a 20% discount on all beverages and food consumed at the hotel resort during their stay.

I hate, hate, hate people who look at movies–especially older movies–as just a step in the line to the movies we have today.  It’s a slap in the face to life, by extension, and I will explain why. (Foswi, this is primarily for you.)

I am a staunch historian, and I thoroughly believe in the value of studying history.  If you do not, you might as well stop reading this blog.  We’ll just never get along.  To that extent, is it useless to study ancient warfare in a modern context?  Are there no pracitical applicable lessons to be learned from tactics that defy era, technology, or weaponry?  I think you out there in someplacewhereyou’restaringatacomputerscreen should be thinking to yourself, “No, there is value in knowing that stuff…”  Because  you’re right.

Or, let’s think of this in terms of books.  Does it make sense to stop reading  Hamlet, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1984, The Lord of the Rings, Black Boy, Brave New World, Romeo and Juliet, The Giver, etc. just because there are the Harry Potter series, the Twilight books, the Time Traveler’s Wife, and various James Patterson and Stephen King books topping the New York Times Bestseller list?  Should we leave the past behind and only allow only what is new and pretty and shiny to be let in?

I think not.

The problem is the genre of film allows this to easily happen.  And many people who watch movies (or passively read about movies) tend to think only the little that is said without thorough investigation into the actuality of history.

Point 1: Michael Bay is awesome…but not really.

The Island

Michael Bay, as many know, is the champion of all things pretty, and mind-numbingly explosive.  After all, you don’t make a name for yourself with blockbusters like Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, The Island, Transformers, and Transformers II (directed all by Bay) without some level of skill.  I mean, seriously.  That’s an impressive list of movies, with impressive DVD sales, and everything.

But let us be honest.  The movies star nice looking people, blow a lot of things up, include heart-racing, adrenaline pumping, action and car chases (or meteorite destroying drill malfunctions, what have you), and fun technological advances.  They’re like James Bond films…just without James Bond.

These movies have made millions.  They have loyal fans of adults, teenagers, and children alike.  They’re fun to watch, made millions in the movie theaters.  But they suck.  They have no deeper meaning, make me thoughtful in no way, and generally make me dumber, because I actually could have been learning something while I was wasting time watching pretty people run around.

Point 2: There is more to history than just history.

Citizen Kane

A friend of mine (after reading a former post of mine) responded thusly:

I’ll disregard the opinion of anyone who thinks Citizen Kane is great for anything more than its innovative transitions and camera angles.

While said tongue-in-cheek, there is, I know, a part of him that believes this to be true.  And this is why I am angry.  I love Citizen Kane, in the same way I love Schindler’s List.  Sure it’s a little on the long side, but the story is great, the acting is believable, the direction is flawless, and the overall impact: unforgettable.

The ease with which Americans, modern people, I’m not sure who this list should (or actually does) include, forget the past when it comes to movies is disturbing.  Yes, movies are more entertaining today.  Movie from yore are a little boring.

Except that’s not true.  I defy anyone to watch The Apartment and not be complete enraptured.  Peeping Tom is one of the creepiest movies I’ve ever seen.  (If you have a Netflix account, I believe it is streaming live.   You should go watch it now.  Better than Drag Me To Hell.  Creepier.  Stranger.  More interesting.)  And you know what, It Happened One Night is the quintessential romance that cannot be improved upon in a modern way.  There are just old movies that age well, and have stayed good for a reason.  Citizen Kane is one of them.  Beyond the transitions and camera angles. (We’ve all heard the “Oh my gosh, there’s a ceiling” reaction.)  But let’s talk about the role the dining room table plays in the movie.  Did you ever think about that? Or how about the scene where Welles types out the rest of a horrible review of his wife’s disastrous operatic debut?  The acting is top notch, better than Sean Penn in Milk.

I am struck by many things.  Here’s a short list:

• People today seem so averse to watching older, or just pain old, films.
• People tend to devalue the impact of older movies because modern counterparts tends to be more engaging, which they equate with “better.”
• People tend to devalue the fact that most older movies have a deeper theme than most modern movies, even modern movies based in classic stories.

This is why the market for older movies should be booming, not dying away.  This is why people should actually sit down and become their own movie reviewer.  If you take the time to watching a movie a week, you’ll watch AFI’s Top 100 movie list in less than two year.  Probably less than a year, considering you’ve seen a lot of them.

Why is it people are so ready to agree, or disagree with the statements of critics and film historians, but are so rarely willing to make their own original statements about the movies themselves.  People, you, staring at your own screen.  Say what’s on your mind.  Be willing to say Citizen Kane sucked, but don’t you dare say it’s boring without backing it up.  I’m not about opinion’s with no evidence.

Just have an opinion, and make it your own.

Holiday’s…. mere mention of the word leaves a smile on the face and a sparkle in the eyes. All of us want to go away for a while from our routine mundane demanding lives. We want to spend some quality time with our loved ones, ourselves and above all with nature. But the million-dollar question is where to holiday?

Let me take you to a new holiday destination, which I am sure you have not visited yet. Elba island is an Italian island located in the Tuscan Archipelago. Sun, sea, beaches and a memorable holiday trip are guaranteed here. The island that is situated about 10km from the mainland can be accessed by a ferry, taking about an hour’s time. Elba is an island that welcomes you with a warm smile that’s all embracing…the vast seas, the beautiful beaches, and the green countryside all welcome you to the island. Elba Island is sure to thrill you with its natural beautiful landscapes and tourist spots. The climate here is typical as like of most marine climates. You can look forward to a mild weather here even during the winter season. Rains here are very scarce.

Rocky coastlines, cliffs, sandy beaches, beaches with pebble stones, sunny windy shorelines, and green pastures of land are all going to give you a beautiful sight that you are bound to remember for ages. The beaches of Elba are many and each one is unique in itself. On one hand you may see long golden beaches, on the other you may come across a beautiful beach of black sand. Beaches with tiny stones, those with white pebbles are a rare sight that is common here on Elba Island. Cliffs of smooth granite rocks, crystal clear seas, luxurious hilltops with fragrant sweet smelling flowers, woods with trees that have stood for ages, small villages by the sea or on the ridges, all make a spectacular sight.

Apart from its natural bewitching beauty Elba is a paradise for all those who enjoy and love nature sports. The island of Elba offers a variety of memories for the tourists. Trekking, mountain biking, squab diving, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, Para-gliding, golf are some of the adventure sports you can look forward to.

The holiday to Elba islands would be incomplete without getting a taste of their cuisine. The flavors of the cuisines here are exotic. You can get a good catch here that smells and tastes good too…I meant the fish it’s excellent and worth trying. And to give you a little high the island offers an array of fine wines red, white and sweet dessert wines are a must have.

Shopping can be a wonderful activity when one is relaxed and has leisure time. A holiday without some local shopping is not complete. Elba Island has a lot to offer on this front too. You can find typical Elba hand made products that will make for interesting souvenir. Mineral shops, shops selling antiques, boutiques, souvenir stalls will all help you find that special thing that you would want to take back home from Elba island.

I am sure that the visit to Elba Island will make a memorable trip. It will charge you up for the hectic schedule that will step in once you return from the holiday. Take that much needed holiday now you know where to go. Visit Elba and do remember me when there. Enjoy the holiday. See ya.

British newspaper readers have become accustomed to reading travel articles extolling the virtues of Majorca, and why it is the most popular holiday destination for European holidaymakers each summer.

Majorca, or as it is often known as Mallorca, is a holiday island that is as private or public as a tourist wants it to be, and as cosmpolitan as Magaluf or as quiet and pristine as Deia.

Late and all night parties, budget hotels and cheap flights are all on the same island as some of the best hotels in the world such as La Residencia in Deia, and on the same island that has the all night drinking as cycle trails, mountains and traditional Spanish countryside that makes Majorca special for so many tourists – it has one of the highest numbers of returning holidaymakers among the popular holiday destinations in Europe.

But it is economic circumstances rather than the appeal of the island that could see Majorca holidays be relegated from the top spot for European vacations, and see Turkey emerge as the new favourite this year.

A combination of a weak pound for British tourists visiting for Majorca holidays where the Euro is used, making a trip some ten per cent more expensive than for the same time last year, and a looming recession for the UK economy has caused both holiday makers and tour operators to look at alternatives outside the Eurozone to offer value for money family holidays this year.

And it’s not just Turkey that has benefitted from the Euro’s high value as British tourists look elsewhere this year – Florida has seen an upsurge while the pound was buying two dollars, and Egypt too has proved popular.

Majorca was one of the first ever holiday destinations in the world to actively market itself, and has successfully been attracting holidaymakers for over a hundred years now, so if it does slip from the number one position it won’t be down to lack of experience or committment from the island’s tourist authorities.

And low cost airlines from around Europe have enabled Majorca holidays to be more accessible today than ever before, allowing three day as well week and two week holidays to be taken more than once a year for those who rate Majorca as their first choice of holiday destination.

The property market on the island has benefitted too from cheap flights to Majorca, with low prices and a choice of departure times from regional airports, owning a villa or apartment allows rental income, but also for the owners to enjoy their property on several occasions throughout the year.

There’s a diversity about Majorca that enables the island to attract high numbers of holidaymakers while at the same time drawing the upmarket tourist and celebrities who can find the peace and quiet they want in wonderful surroundings at the same time that others are enjoying a package holiday deal from one of the major tour operators along with tens of thousands of others in the towns and resorts.

Majorca has hundreds of hotel options to choose from, but probably the best for service, standards and luxury is the La Residencia, which is often quoted in the national newspapers in Europe as one of the best hotels in Majorca. Located in Deia, home village to many celebrities, the hotel offers the best of Majorca, close to both the mountains and the Mediterranean.

It’s probably not a question of if Majorca will return as a favourite holidays destination for British, German and other European tourists who make up the vast majority of the island’s visitors, but a question of when – and if the Euro slips in strength in the coming months the British could be booking for a holiday in Majorca for 2009.

Majorca – or Mallorca – will be hoping the British currency revitalises in the coming months!

Santorini is a magical Island that requires no introduction to explain it’s extraordinary beauty, also known as Thira. The dramatic Santorini has been a spectacular and famous vacation destination for decades, especially for young couples and family holidays. The economy of the island is greatly depends upon Tourism, wine, tomato and nut exports, delivery of soil to the cement Industry discharged from volcano.

Santorini is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Europe. The villages with dazzling white buildings, narrow streets, the snow clad mountains, the breath taking sunsets, the gorgeous landscapes, unique villages, museums and beautiful beaches of the Santorini Island are enough to amaze the tourists in all ways. All kind of accommodations are available on the Island including apartments, luxury hotels, resorts, camping sites and villas on a budget for visitors.

Fira is the capital of Santorini and probably the most popular place in the Island. The towns Fira and Oia cling to the edge of the volcano and you can get an unforgettable view by catching a ferry across the caldera. Fira is the busiest and crowded town in the island and filled with tourists and all kind of shops, restaurants, Villas, resorts, jewelleries, cafes, night clubs and bars.

Fira is the best for shopping. Here you will find huge jewllery shops in the center of the city, selling jewelleries at affordable prices. During the time of shopping, don’t forget to ask for discount as everything seems to be negotiable. The town consists of clothing stores, large number of luxury hotels and most of the hotels have swimming pools and verandas to attract their customers for a relaxing stay. Most people go by cable car that takes 3 minutes and you can experience some amazing views, which you can store in your camera as a life time memory.

Santorini beaches are one of the prime attractions for visitors in the island. The island is gifted with many beautiful beaches such as: Perissa, Kamari, Red beach, Monolithos, Perivolos, Vourvoulos, capecolumbo and more. Among all theses beaches: Perissa, Kamari, Monolithos and red beach are the most popular. Red beach is the most famous beach in the Island, located near Akrotiri. To allure visitors the beaches are offering water sports, sun umbrella, beach resorts, night clubs, hotels and bars.

Santorini is the best place to view breath taking and romantic sun-set on the earth. One can view this sunset from many villages from top of the high rock, especially from the village of Oia. The romantic Santorini sunset is so beautiful that it compel the couples to spend the let afternoon with the company of each other. Couples come from all over the world to view the extraordinary sunset of Santorini. To attract targeted couples come from different corner of the world, the hotels and restaurants have made necessary arrangements to view the spectacular sunset.

I was thinking about film today, as I do pretty often, wondering what I’d pick if I tried to come up with a combo list of slightly strange sci-fi movies including some post apocalyptic stuff.  Films I liked.  Films that had an impact on me… couldn’t forget scenes from them, made me think a bit… that sort of thing.  This is what I came up with…. in no particular order.

2001: A Space Odyssey (68)

2010 (84)

A Boy and his Dog (75)

A Scanner Darkly (06)

Bicentennial Man (99)

Blade Runner (82)

Brave New World (80)

Capricorn One (77)

Cherry 2000 (87)

Damnation Alley (77)

Dark City (98)

Demolition Man (93)

Dreamscape (84)

Escape from New York (81)

Gattaca (97)

Handmaid’s Tale (90)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (78)

Jacob’s Ladder (90)

Liquid Sky (82)

Logan’s Run (76)

Mad Max Movies (79-85)

Matrix Trilogy (99-03)

Metropolis (27)

Minority Report (02)

Mission to Mars (00)

Omega Man (71)

On The Beach (59)

Planet of the Apes Films (68-73)

Quatermass and the Pit (68)

Scanners (81)

Red Planet (00)

Silent Running (72)

Soylent Green (73)

Stargate (94)

Tank Girl (95)

The Running Man (87)

The Day The Earth Stood Still (51)

The Island (05)

The Island of Dr. Moreau (77)

The Andromeda Strain (71)

The Time Machine (60)

They Live (88)

The Thing (82)

V for Vendetta (05)

Total Recall (90)

Videodrome (83)

The Warriors (79)

Waterworld (95)

Westworld (73)

Zardoz (74)

I just read on another blog that less accidents happen on Friday 13th then any other day. I doubt this means that Friday 13th is lucky though, it’s probably just the fact that everyone thinks something bad is going to happen and are therefore more careful.

Personally? I find Friday 13th very lucky. My birthday is on the 13th, so every now and again, it’s on a Friday. Why would I ruin such a day by believing that soem terrible callamity will happen?

Yesterday, for instance, was great. In RE we just watched The Island, because we’re learning about cloning. My friend who is in the parallel class did the same, but it was because he accidentally gave their books to the Year 7s or something, so I was just expecting to do more boring work. It’s an okay movie, good enough to not fall asleep. If we never finish it in class (the amount of times I’ve watched the beginning of Shrek or Cars when it’s nearly Christmas) I might actually consider renting it to finish it.

That’s not the best though…At lunch, Jack asked me out.He is so sweet, I saw this look of utter.. I can’t discribe it, when he thought I was about to say no. I just replied, “I’d love to!”. I feel a bit bad though because I didn’t manage to say goodbye. I forgot my locker key (again) and I saw Chantelle grab my jumper from my friends locker to hide it from me, so I had to quickly grab it.

I’m so happy, because Jack is really cool, and sweet, and yum.

Ieri sera si è consumata l’ennesima sfida auditel tra Un medico in famiglia 6, la fiction italiana di RaiUno e Grande Fratello 10, il reality show di Canale 5. Il primo ha la vinta sul secondo raccogliendo, nel primo episodio 7.438.000 telespettatori e il 25,86% di share e nel secondo 6.834.000 e il 27,30%. Il secondo ha raccolto il 23,35% di share e 5.160.000 telespettatori. Il reality condotto da Alessia Marcuzzi ha visto l’eliminazione di Sabrina Passante e Davide Vallicelli ed ha raggiunto picchi vicini al 40% di share (39,79% alle 24:08).

Dopo il salto, seguiranno gli ascolti degli altri programmi di prime-time, di quelli di access-prime time e delle soap opera.

RAIDUE

VOJAGER  2.345.000 –  8.74%

RAITRE

CHI L’HA VISTO ?  2.298.000 –  8.51%

RETE4

IL COMANDANTE FLORENT  2.229.000 - 8.17%

ITALIA 1

THE ISLAND   2.173.000 – 8,81%

DATI ACCESS – PRIMETIME

RAIUNO

AFFARI TUOI  6.387.000 – 23,24%

RAIDUE

TG2  2.390.000 – 8.91%

RAITRE

UN POSTO AL SOLE  2.380.000 - 8.74%

RETE4

WALKER TEXAS RANGER  2.585.000 - 9.46%

CANALE 5

STRISCIA LA NOTIZIA  7.844.000 - 28.21%

ITALIA 1

PRENDERE O LASCIARE  1.975.000 - 7.22%

DATI SOAP OPERA

RAITRE

VENTO DI PASSIONE  771.000 - 4.91%

LE STORIE DI AGRODOLCE  1.330.000 –  5.19%

RETE4

BIANCA  135 .000 – 3.53%

SENTIERI 684.000 - 7.70%

TEMPESTA D’AMORE   1.902.000 - 7.88%

CANALE 5

BEAUTIFUL  4.013.000 –  24.95%

CENTOVETRINE  3.647.000 - 24.87%

Per i dati auditel si ringrazia www.tvblog.it.

Ecco gli ascolti, basati sui dati forniti quotidianamente da Auditel, dei programmi di prima serata di ieri, e a seguire una guida sintetica ai programmi in onda sui canali in chiaro di questa sera, martedì 17 novembre 2009. Per maggiori informazioni sulla programmazione televisiva visitate le sezioni Telefilm News, Cartoon News, Sat News e Dig News, per esprimere la vostra opinione utilizzate la sezione settimanale TelePagelle.

LUNEDI’ 16 NOVEMBRE 2009

IERI SERA… Nel primo giorno del switch-off al digitale terrestre avvenuto in quasi tutto il Lazio (con un volo degli ascolti dei canali digitali Rai), vittoria ai due episodi inediti della serie italiana di RaiUno “Un medico in famiglia 6″ con Giulio Scarpati e Pietro Sermonti, che con una media superiore ai 7,2 milioni di spettatori ha superato il reality show di Canale 5 “Grande Fratello” con Alessia Marcuzzi, fermo a poco più di 5 milioni (tra le 21.15 e le 00.15). Sullo stesso livello di ascolti le altre offerte Rai e Mediaset, ovvero il programma di RaiDue “Voyager – Ai confini della conoscenza” con Roberto Giacobbo, il programma di RaiTre “Chi l’ha visto?” con Federica Sciarelli, il ritorno in replica della serie poliziesca francese di Rete 4 “Il comandante Florent” con Corinne Touzet, il film di fantascienza di Italia 1 “The Island” con Ewan McGregor; infine, il programma di La 7 “L’infedele” con Gad Lerner ha ottenuto 945.000 spettatori (3,86%).

LA PRIMA SERATA (ore 20.30/22.30)

	PUBBLICO	SHARE %
	7.008.000	24,99
	2.387.000	8,51
	2.346.000	8,37
	493.000	1,76
	12.234.000	43,63
	6.413.000	22,87
	2.148.000	7,66
	2.412.000	8,60
	219.000	0,78
	11.193.000	39,91
	955.000	3,41
Altri canali terrestri	1.802.000	6,43
Canali satellitari	1.858.000	6,63
TOTALE	28.043.000	100,00

A seguire alcune segnalazioni sugli ascolti disponibili della prima serata di ieri, e per concludere una guida alla TV di questa sera sui principali canali in chiaro.

I CANALI RAI E MEDIASET

• Alle 20.39 il gioco “Affari tuoi” (6.387.000 spettatori – 23,24%). Alle 21.15 gli episodi inediti 21-22 della serie italiana “Un medico in famiglia 6”: il primo episodio “Non c’è rosa senza spine” ha totalizzato 7.438.000 spettatori (25,86%), il secondo episodio “Ciao Giulia” (ore 22.08) ha avuto 6.834.000 spettatori (27,30%).
• Alle 21.10 l’ottava puntata del programma divulgativo “Voyager – Ai confini della conoscenza” (2.345.000 spettatori – 8,74%, preceduto alle 21.02 da un’anteprima con 1.466.000 spettatori – 5,17%).
• Alle 20.36 l’episodio 2.896 della soap opera “Un posto al sole” (2.380.000 spettatori – 8,74%). Alle 21.09 l’undicesima puntata del programma “Chi l’ha visto?” (2.298.000 spettatori – 8,51%).
• Alle 20.46 il varietà “Striscia la notizia” (7.844.000 spettatori – 28,21%). Alle 21.15 la quarta puntata del reality show “Grande Fratello” (5.160.000 spettatori – 23,35%). Alle 00.16 la terza puntata del varietà “Mai dire Grande Fratello” (2.370.000 spettatori – 34,37%, seguito alle 00.56 dalla striscia “Provini” con 1.534.000 spettatori – 30,80%).
• Alle 20.02 l’episodio 18 “Il film festival di Springfield” della sesta stagione della serie animata “I Simpson” (1.953.000 spettatori – 7,82%). Alle 20.30 il gioco “Prendere o lasciare” (1.975.000 spettatori – 7,22%). Alle 21.17 il film di fantascienza “The Island” (2.173.000 spettatori – 8,81%).
• Alle 19.44 la soap tedesca “Tempesta d’amore” (1.902.000 spettatori – 7,88%). Alle 20.29 l’episodio 21 “Prova di forza a casa Diablo” (Prima parte) dell’ottava stagione del telefilm Walker, Texas Ranger (2.585.000 spettatori – 9,46%). Alle 21.15 l’episodio “Pirati della strada” della serie poliziesca francese Il comandante Florent (2.229.000 spettatori – 8,17%).

MARTEDI’ 17 NOVEMBRE 2009

Sono elencati principalmente i programmi di prima serata. Gli orari e i titoli indicati possono variare senza preavviso.

CANALI IN CHIARO

A causa di un’ìnfluenza che ha colpito il conduttore Giovanni Floris, questa sera salta la prevista decima puntata del programma di RaiTre “Ballarò”.
Inoltre, al posto del previsto film commedia “Un giorno… per caso” con George Clooney e Michelle Pfeiffer, Rete 4 propone l’ennesima replica del poliziesco “Nico” con Steven Seagal.

• Alle 21.10 la serie italiana “Un medico in famiglia 6” con Giulio Scarpati e Pietro Sermonti – episodi 23-24.
• Alle 21.05 la serie poliziesca Senza traccia con Anthony LaPaglia e Eric Close – episodio 6×10. Alle 21.50 la serie poliziesca Criminal Minds con Thomas Gibson e Joe Mantegna – episodio 4×15. Alle 22.35 la serie giudiziaria Law & Order – I due volti della giustizia con Dennis Farina e Sam Waterston – episodio 16×18. Alle 23.40, per il ciclo “Palco e retropalco”, lo spettacolo teatrale “Non sia mai viene qualcuno” (Prima parte) con Enrico Brignano.
• Alle 21.10 il programma “Sfide” – puntata “Riscatto azzurro”.
• Alle 21.10 il film drammatico “L’allievo” (1998), con Brad Renfro e Ian McKellen. Alle 22.55 la seconda edizione del magazine “SUGO – Il sangue dei media” con Carolina Di Domenico – puntata 1.
• Alle 21.10 la miniserie italiana “Il falco e la colomba” (2009), con Giulio Berruti e Cosima Coppola – puntata conclusiva 6.
• Alle 21.10 il varietà “Le Iene Show” con Ilary Blasi, Luca Bizzarri e Paolo Kessisoglu – puntata conclusiva 9.
• Alle 21.10 il film d’azione “Nico” (1988), con Steven Seagal e Pam Grier.
• Alle 21.00 il film drammatico “Innocenza infranta” (1997), con Liv Tyler e Joaquin Phoenix. Alle 22.45 la serie Dark Angel con Jessica Alba e Michael Weatherly – episodi conclusivi 2×19-20-21.
• Alle 21.10 il programma “Impero” con Valerio Massimo Manfredi – puntata 4 “Giordano Bruno e Galileo Galilei: processo alle idee”.
• Alle 21.00 la serie animata “FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood” – episodio 6. Alle 21.30 la serie animata “Black Lagoon” – episodio 6. Alle 22.00 la serie animata “Death Note” – episodi 11-12.
• Alle 20.00 una rotazione di video musicali. Alle 22.00 la replica del varietà “Deejay chiama Italia” con Linus e Nicola Savino.
• Alle 21.00 la telenovela per ragazzi “Flor – Speciale come te” con Florencia Bertotti e Ángeles Balbiani. Alle 21.50 la serie animata “Il laboratorio di Dexter”.
• Alle 21.05 la replica della prima puntata del varietà musicale “52° Zecchino d’Oro” con Veronica Maya e Paolo Conticini.
• Alle 20.50 il varietà “Takeshi’s Castle” commentato da Lillo e Greg – tre puntate.

I SIMBOLI USATI
L’indicazione tipo 1×02 segnala il 2° episodio della 1^ stagione.
= film o film TV.
= telefilm (serie/sit-com) straniero.
= telefilm o sceneggiato di produzione italiana, o miniserie straniera.
= soap opera o telenovela.
= cartone animato.
= programma sportivo.
= prima visione sui canali non a pagamento.
= variazione rispetto al programma previsto.
comprende Rai 4, Rai Gulp, Rai Storia, Rai Sport Più, Rai News 24, Rai Edu1 ed i canali RaiSat.