Carribean: Now!! Watch out of the Pirates

HAITI

Haiti, once one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Caribbean, is now one of the least-visited destinations due to its political instability and a lack of tourism infrastructure. The U.S. State Department maintains travel warnings to keep visitors aware of the potential dangers and American travelers should contact the U.S. Embassy upon arrival. A car with a driver or escorted day tours is advisable. For intrepid travelers intrigued by the country’s cultural offerings and natural beauty, Haiti offers fascinating castles, history, architecture, art, music and spiritual traditions.

Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. The capital, Port-au-Prince, is located in the central region on the Gulf of Gonâve. Points of interest here include the Musée de Pantheon, Place des Héros, and the Basilica of Notre Dame. Inside the Musée Nationale is a treasure-trove of historical relics such as the pistol used by King Henri Christophe in 1820, which he used to end his life rather than face a coup. Visitors can also see an anchor allegedly salvaged from Christopher Columbus’ famous Santa Maria.

The Museum of Haitian Art features the nation’s famed art naïf paintings. Fine art galleries are located in Pétionville in the hills above the city, where most visitors choose to stay. This upscale district is home to international embassies, trendy restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs. The Barbancourt Rum Distillery is another popular attraction, in operation since 1765 and based in a hillside castle.

The northern peninsula is filled with forts and ruins to explore. The formidable Citadelle crowns the 3,000 foot Pic la Ferriere and in the valley sits Sans Souci, an elegant but ruined palace built in 1810. The two structures are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five additional forts overlook Cap-Haïtien harbor and the coastline. The southern peninsula’s high mountains and thundering waterfalls attract nature lovers. Visit Bassin Bleu, a triple waterfall with deep pools, and Pic de Macaya, a 7,700 foot mountain populated by rare orchids and birds. Étang Saumâtre, a blue saltwater lake, delights with more than 100 species of waterfowl plus flamingos and American crocodile.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture. Port-au-Prince International Airport, located 5 miles from downtown. Local airports: Cap Haitien (northeast) and Port-de-Paix (northwest). Jacmel (southeast of Haiti Pignon, center of Haiti) . Jeremie (southwest or Grand Anse). Gateways/Flying Times: Miami-1.5 hours. Montreal-4 hours. New York-3 hours 20 minutes. Santo Domingo-40 minutes.

CLIMATE: Average daytime temperature 76-82 degrees F., with cooler nights. Rainy season from May to July and September to early December; 20-25 days of rain annually.


DINING: Restaurants available-Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International. Service charge -10% . Dress code is usually casual comfortable summer sportswear. Some hotels may require a jacket and tie.

LANGUAGE: French and Creole are the official languages. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes-Discos. Dinner/Dances. Theaters. Casinos. Nightclubs. Cinemas. Live music.

SIGHTSEEING: In Port-au-Prince: The Cathedral of Port-au-Prince. The Cathedral of St. Trinity. Musee du Pantheon National, Place des Heros de l’Independence. ‘In Boutilliers (3000 ft) panoramic view of Port-au-Prince and the Bay of La Gonave’. In the Cote des Arcadins: Moulin sur Mer Museum. In Cap-Haitien: Citadelle LaFerriere. Palais Sans-Souci. Colonial Architecture. In Jacmel: Bassin Bleu. Manoir Alexandra. Colonial Architecture.Handicraft. La Petite Batterie.

CUBA

There are few more fascinating destinations in the Caribbean than its largest and most populous island, Cuba – not least because it has been a socialist republic since the 1959 revolution, when Fidel Castro seized power. This last remaining vestige of state socialism, 90 miles south of Key West, Florida, was once the last stronghold of Spanish power in the region.

Cuba’s rich artistic heritage ranges from pre-Columbian cultures to the splendors of Spanish colonialism and the internationally acclaimed art of today. It is also a place of great natural beauty, with three magnificent mountain ranges and fertile plains where sugar cane and tobacco grow. And it has some of the best beaches in the world.

A quarter of Cuba’s 11 million people live in and around Havana, which lays claim to being the most beautiful city in the Caribbean. Old Havana, with its square mile of colonial palaces, handsome plazas and charming cobbled alleys was, along with Mexico City and Lima, one of the three richest Spanish cities outside Spain. It has been designated by UNESCO as a city of world heritage.

Cuba has an easy-going, multi-racial population whose greatest enthusiasm is reserved for music. It is the home of the modern rumba, actually of African origin, the mamba, the cha-cha-cha and the salsa. Cuban jazz is also excellent. Wherever you go on the island, music will go with you.

Travel can be an adventure. Transport is cheap and convivial. Cuba is the only place on earth where hitchhiking is regulated by the state – in the nicest possible way. Each town has a hitch-hiking point manned by an official in yellow trousers who supervises the hitchers, registers their destinations and loads them on to any state or private car that happens to be heading in the right direction. Tourists are absolved from the obligation to take on hitch-hikers.

It's a great time to visit Cuba, if you can. It is a vibrant island with resorts and beaches, some extensive – and the fact that it does not always provide the fully-honed and polished version of modern-day tourism suits many of its visitors just fine.

CAYMAN ISLAND

Like three brilliant siblings, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman each have their own charms while sharing familial traits. A British Overseas Territory, the trio makes up a one of a kind vacation spot beloved by families, couples and watersport enthusiasts alike.

Grand Cayman’s capital, George Town, is a vibrant city center, housing unique historic sites, a renowned National Gallery and Cayman’s National Museum. The downtown area also boasts some of the Caribbean’s very best duty-free shopping. Travelers can choose from fine European fashions and top designer labels, artisanal crafts such as Caymanite jewelry, antiques and treasure coin jewelry.

The perfect family vacation destination, Grand Cayman is full of adventures. At Boatswain’s Beach, site of the renowned Cayman Turtle Farm, children and parents alike can enjoy a fully interactive marine park--home to more than 16,000 endangered green sea turtles, exciting shark exhibits and a fabulous snorkel lagoon. At Stingray City, families can touch and feed stingrays, while snorkeling over magnificent coral reefs filled with colorful tropical fish.

With dozens of world-class dining options and a host of luxury accommodations, Cayman is also the perfect setting for a destination wedding, honeymoon or romantic weekend getaway. Whether it be relaxing at Seven Mile Beach or experiencing exhilarating dives, Grand Cayman has it all.

If you’re looking for a remote retreat, Cayman Brac is only 45 minutes away. A nature lover’s paradise, this small island is lined with walking and hiking trails and is home to nearly 200 species of birds. Cayman Brac is also the site of the only dive-accessible Russian warship in the Western Hemisphere.

Little Cayman, just five miles from Cayman Brac, is the quintessential island escape. Fewer than 150 people live here year-round, and the bonefishing and diving are spectacular. There are more than 50 walls, wrecks and other dive sites teeming with tropical fish and coral. Bloody Bay Wall off Little Cayman and the Great Wall off North Cayman, draw divers from all over the world.

For some, Cayman is a diver’s dream offering clear waters, famous wrecks, and diverse aquatic life. For others, it’s a fun, educational and enriching family vacation. For others still, it’s the perfect romantic getaway. The Cayman Islands truly has something for everyone.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: (GCM) - Owen Roberts International Airport serves Grand Cayman. Gerrard Smith International Airport is on Cayman Brac. Edward Bodden Airstrip is on Little Cayman. Little Cayman has no customs or immigration, so no international flights stop there. Gateways/Flying Times: Atlanta - 2 hours 40 minutes. Kingston, Jamaica - 1 hour. Miami - 1 hour 20 minutes. Tampa - 1 hour 40 minutes. New York – 4 hours. Toronto, Canada – 4 hours. Charlotte - 2 hours 50 minutes. Newark - 4 hours 15 minutes. Montego Bay, Jamaica - 45 minutes.

CLIMATE: Average annual temperature, high-27.6 C/86.6 F: low-19 degrees C/66 degrees F.

DINING: Local. Caribbean. International. Gourmet. Chinese. Italian. Mexican. Southwestern USA. German. Indian. Thai. English pubs. Fast Food. Dress code is casual. 15% is standard for gratuities.

LANGUAGE: English.

NIGHTLIFE: Discos. Live Music. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Cinemas. Theaters. Comedy Club. Café. Occasionally gospel concerts and concerts by top reggae, country and rock bands.

SIGHTSEEING: Grand Cayman - white sand beaches, dive and snorkel sites; Marine trips; Atlantis Submarine; SeaWorld Explorer Semi-Submarine; Nautilus Semi-Submersible Submarine; Jolly Roger cruise excursions; Turtle Farm; Conch Shell House; Hell in West Bay; Blow Holes in East End; Stingray City (snorkeling or diving) dept 4 to 12 ft; Tortuga Rum Factory; Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park; Mastic Trail; Pedro St. James; Rum Point; Stingray Brewery; Yacht Club; Britannia, the Links at Safehaven Golf courses. Butterfly Farm. Cayman Brac - Bluff; Caves; Honeymoon Cottage; Museum; NIM Things; Parrot Reserve; M/V Capt. Keith Tibbetts (diving or snorkeling site). Brac Nature Trails. Little Cayman - Booby Pond Nature Reserve; Museum; National Trust House and Bird Sanctuary; Owen Island; Point O’ Sand Beach; Salt Rocks Dock; Tarpon Lake; Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson Marine Parks (diving and snorkeling sites).

JAMAICA

Jamaica is surely one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations. The scenery offers everything from fish-filled coral reefs and white-sand beaches to breathtaking waterfalls and cloud-shrouded rainforests. The music is infectious, and the people represent one of the most diverse populations in the Caribbean, drawing from African, Chinese, Indian, British and German heritage.

Jamaica is the Caribbean’s third largest island with six main tourist regions – Montego Bay, Negril, Mandeville and The South Coast, Kingston, Port Antonio and Ocho Rios. There are numerous tranquil places to visit: The 7,402 foot Blue Mountain Peak is a challenge to all serious island trekkers, and bird watching is increasingly popular with more than 200 native species, including at least 25 species that are endemic. Jamaica is also reputedly home to more than 3,000 species of flowering plants, some 720 of which are found nowhere else. Jamaica is rich with formal gardens, too, such as Hope Botanical Gardens, Shaw Park Gardens, Coyaba River Garden and the Cranbrook Flower Forest.

Ocho Rios is a prime port for cruise ships but also boasts a succession of bays and beaches. Most notable are Runaway Bay, and Discovery Bay. Just inland lies Dunn’s River Falls – a much photographed attraction. Montego Bay is a mecca for watersports lovers including sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing, parasailing, sport fishing and glass-bottom boat excursions. For shoppers, Gloucester Avenue (dubbed the "Hip Strip") is lined with duty-free shops, souvenir arcades, restaurants and bars. Negril became known in the 1960’s and 1970’s as an idyllic escape for the backpack crowd, and still enjoys a low-key demeanor. Perched on limestone bluffs, Negril’s West End is home to numerous small resorts snuggled into the craggy cliffs.

Visit the many plantation great houses such as Rose Hall and Greenwood Great House. Tour the rum distillery at Hampden Great House. Like many Caribbean islands with a sugar plantation heritage, Jamaica showcases numerous fine rums, including Appleton, which offers a top-shelf label of aged rums. Another favorite treat is Tia Maria, a coffee-flavored rum liqueur.

AIRPORTS/GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airports: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN), 13 miles from Kingston. Sangster International Airport (MBJ), 2 miles from downtown Montego Bay. Sangster to: Ocho Rios 1.5 hours, Negril 1.5 hours. Manley to: Port Antonio 2 hours, South Coast 2.0 hrs. Gateways/Flying Times: From Baltimore-3 hours. Boston-3 hours 40 minutes. Chicago-3 hours 45 minutes. Dallas-3 hours 20 minutes. Los Angeles-5 hours 30 minutes. Miami-1hour 25 minutes. Montego Bay from Atlanta-2 hours 40 minutes. New Orleans-3 hours. New York-3 hours 20 minutes. Toronto-4 hours.

CLIMATE: Temperatures high/low-Summer 80/70-80 degrees F. Winter 80/70 degrees F. Annual average temperature is 82 degrees F. In the hills it’s cooler with an average temperature around 70 degrees F. In Kingston, humidity ranges from 63% in February to 75% in October. In Montego Bay, humidity ranges from 71 to 77%. Average rainfall is 77” annually. Approximate sunrise/sunset 0600/1900. For every 1000 feet in altitude the temperature drops 3.5 degrees F, so that the Blue Mountain Peak has an average annual temperature of 56 degrees F.

DINING: Local. Fast food. Gourmet. International. Tipping: 10-15%

LANGUAGE: The official language spoken is English. Patois, a mix of English and African, is also spoken.

NIGHTLIFE: Discos. Nightclubs. Dinner/Dances. Theaters. Live music. Cinemas.

ATTRACTIONS/SIGHTSEEING: Kingston: Bob Marley Museum. Bank of Jamaica Money Museum. Caymanas Park. Devon House. Emancipation Park. Fort Charles & The Maritime Museum, Port Royal. Hollywell. Hope Botanical Gardens. Institute of Jamaica. Liberty Hall. National Gallery of Art. National Heroes Park. Putt n’ Play. Rockfort Mineral Bat. Serenity Wildlife Park. Spanish Town's Historic District. Mandeville/South Coast: Appleton Rum Tour. Black River Safari Boat Tour. Cashoo Ostrich Park. Irie Safari. Lover’s Leap. Milk River Mineral Spa. YS Falls. Montego Bay: Animal Farm. Aquasol Theme Park. Bob Marley Experience. Braco Stables.
Chukka Blue Adventure Tours. Craydon In the Mountains. Doctor's Cave Bathing Club. John’s Hall Adventure Tour. Half Moon Equestrian Centre. Hilton High Day Tour. Luminous Lagoon/Glistening Waters. MoBay Undersea Tours. Outameni Experience. Rafting on the Martha Brae. Jamaica White Water Expedition. Rose Hall Great House. Negril: Royal Palm Reserve. Mayfield Falls. Rick’s Café. Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay: Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour. Chukka Cove Adventure Tours. Coyaba River Gardens. Cranbrook Flower Forest. Dolphin Cove. Dunn's River Falls. Firefly. Five Star Watersports. Green Grotto Caves. Harmony Hall. Heave-Ho Charters/Fun Cruises. Hooves Limited. Island Village. James Bond Beach. Ocho Rios Marine Park. Prospect Plantation. Reggae eXplosion. Shaw Park Gardens. Sting Ray City. Trails Plantation Rides. Walderswood Jerk Country Tour. White River Valley. Port Antonio: Blue Lagoon. Frenchman’s Cove. Castleton Gardens. Nonsuch Caves. Rio Grande Tours. Sommerset Falls. Reich Falls.

BAHAMAS

Approximately 700 islands, spread over nearly 100,000 square miles of ocean, constitute The Bahamas. The term Out Islands (or Family Islands) refer to all of the islands except New Providence, home to Nassau and Paradise Island, and Grand Bahama, home to Freeport/Lucaya. There are flights to all of the island centers from Nassau. It’s also possible to charter a plane, take a high-speed catamaran ferry, or hop aboard a chartered sailboat or motorboat.

Home to the Bahamas capital of Nassau and the resort development of Paradise Island, New Providence Island is the most visited Bahamian island, thanks to its international airport and busy cruise ship dock. Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island is a popular destination offering excellent golf courses including ones designed by Dick Wilson, Joe Lee and Robert Trent Jones Jr.

Grand Bahama Island is the headquarters of UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society, providing numerous scuba opportunities. The Lucayan National Park offers such birds as flamingos, red legged thrushes and the rare Bahama parrot. The largest of the Bahamas’ islands, Andros, boasts freshwater creeks, lakes, mangrove swamps, and miles of unspoilt beaches. The island boasts the second-largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and fishing for bonefish is the island’s biggest tourist industry. The Berry Islands, home to Chub Cay and Billfish capital of The Bahamas. Bimini is a popular destination for first-rate big-game fishing. Inagua is home to more than 80,000 flamingos and other exotic birds. Long Island is known for broad beaches on its west coast and rocky cliffs on the east.

Cat Island's deserted beaches make for a total getaway. The Abacos and their string of cays are known for their sheltered waters and easy boating. The Exumas have a lot to offer both above and below the surface of the water. At the north end lies the astounding Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Great Exuma, in the south, is home to lodgings and restaurants and Stocking Island, with its untouched beaches separated by towering, rocky cliffs. Eleuthera is 100 miles long but just a few yards wide at some points. At the Glass Window Bridge, you can see the Bahama Bank on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Harbour Island offers good snorkeling and fishing on the bayside and is famous for a 3 mile pink sand beach.

AIRPORT/ GATEWAYS/FLYING TIMES: Airport: Lynden Pindling International Airport - to Cable Beach - 10 minutes. To Downtown Nassau - 20 minutes. To Paradise Island - 30 minutes. Grand Bahama International Airport - to downtown - 5 minutes. To International Bazaar – 10 minutes. By Sea : Discovery Cruise Line - Operates a daily service between Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Grand Bahama Island. Imperial Majesty Cruise Line’s Regal Empress sails every two days between Ft. Lauderdale and Nassau. Gateways/Flying Times: To Nassau from London – 8 hours. Miami - 35 minutes. New York – 2.5 hours. San Francisco (via Miami) - 5 3/4 hours. Toronto – 3.5 hours.

CLIMATE: Average temperature - Summer: High 90, Low 78. Winter : High 75, Low 60. Average humidity 78. Average rainfall - Rain showers occur any time of the year, but rainy months are from May to October. Approximate sunrise - Summer: 0630 - 0700. Winter: 0630
- 0700. Approximate sunset - Summer: 2000. Winter: 1730.

DINING: Restaurants available - Local. American. Fast Food. Gourmet. Continental. French. Italian. Chinese. Japanese. Polynesian. Mexican. Caribbean. French. Greek. Mediterranean. Seafood. 15% service charge is usually added. Dress code is casual. Some restaurants may require slightly more formal attire.

NIGHTLIFE: Entertainment available includes - Nightclubs. Discos. Casinos. Cabarets. Theatre. Cinema. Live music. Native shows.

SIGHTSEEING: Abaco: Hope Town Light House. Wyannie Malone Museum. Albert Lowe Museum. Memorial Sculpture Garden. Exuma: Exuma Land and Sea Park. Stocking Island. Plantation ruins. Underwater caves. Eleuthera: Preacher’s Cave. Glass Window Bridge Ocean Hole. Harbour Island: Pink sand beaches. Grand Bahama: International Bazaar. Glass-bottom Boat. Port Lucaya. UNEXSO Dive Center. The Dolphin Experience. Lucayan National Park. East End Adventures. Kayak tours. Nassau: Straw Market. Bay Street. Pompey Museum. Pirates of Nassau. Horse and carriage rides. Government House. Historical Forts. Ardastra Gardens. The Fish Fry At Arawak Cay. Queen’s Staircase. Water Tower. Walking Tours. Discover Atlantis.

Japan: Kamikaze? Hait!!!

Mt.Fuji: The highest mountain in Japan with a beautiful cone shape. The center of mountain worship since ancient days.

Mt. Fuji is 3,776 meters high and is the highest mountain in Japan, situated in the southeast part of Yamanashi at the border of Shizuoka. With unrivaled magnificence and a beautiful cone shape, Mt. Fuji has often been selected as the subject of paintings and literature. It is the world-famous as a symbol of Japan.

At the foot of Mt. Fuji are Fuji-Goko (Fuji's Five Lakes), Aoki-ga-hara-jukai (a sea of trees that is dark even during the day), and Kitaguchi-Hongu Fuji-Sengen-jinja Shrine (which was constructed to calm the eruption of Mt. Fuji). The Fire Festival of Yoshida, held at the end of the summer as a ritual for closing the climbing season for Mt. Fuji, is one of the three most peculiar festivals in Japan.

Mt. Fuji has long been the center of mountain worship of ancient Japan. Today, it is a popular mountain to climb, and many people climb Mt. Fuji to watch the sunrise called Goraiko from the top. Access to the 5th station is well maintained, so you can go up to this point and thoroughly enjoy the magnificence of Mt. Fuji by just looking at the beautiful sight and its surrounding environment close at hand in all seasons without having to climb all the way to the top.

Kawazu Seven Waterfalls: An ancient mountain passage that was once the setting for a famous novel. Seven magnificent, aligned waterfalls.

Amagi-toge Pass is an old historical pass crossing a mountain about 820 meters above sea level at its peak. Located in the center of the Izu-hanto Peninsula, it leads through beautiful cedar and cypress trees to the main setting for the novel "Izu no Odoriko" (A Dancer in Izu) written by author Yasunari Kawabata, a Nobel Prize laureate.

Yugashima-onsen Hot Spring, located at the junction of the Kano-gawa and the Nekko-gawa rivers, is known as a calm and composed spa area which was cherished by many writers, including Yasunari Kawabata. The old passage through the mountain pass of Izu, embraced by rich, deep forests, still preserves the atmosphere of an older time. This is the site of the number one waterfall in the Izu district, Joren-no-taki, where you can enjoy the magnificent view of massive volumes of water cascading down from atop the soaring rock mountain.

The Kawazu-gawa River originates around Amagi-toge Pass and flows through the eastern part of the peninsula. There are seven waterfalls, known as the "Kawazu Nanadaru," located on the upper course of the river, where you can walk beside the stream along a well set out promenade designed to help visitors appreciate the series of waterfalls. From the uppermost going downstream, they are named: Kama-daru; Ebi-daru; Hebi-daru; Shokei-daru; Kani-daru; Deai-daru; and Oh-daru. The largest of all is Oh-daru, which is about 7 meters wide and 30 meters high.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Enjoy the beauty throughout the four seasons along one of Japan's best alpine sightseeing routes. The highlight of the route is the Kurobe Dam, the highest in Japan.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is an international mountain sightseeing route of some 90 kilometers long. The route goes across the 3,000-meter-high North Alpine mountains, the so-called "roof of Japan," and connects Toyama and Shinano Omachi. You can enjoy the panorama, from the fresh green of spring, to the red leaves of fall, to the new snow of winter, by taking a train, highland bus, trolley bus, cable car, and ropeway. Since the lines opened in June 1971, the Tateyama mountain area has been transformed from an isolated spot into one of the nation's best sightseeing areas, where a million guests visit every year.

Murodo-daira of Tateyama has one of the heaviest snows in the world, and the snow reaches about seven meters on average. In particular, the snow mantle at Otani, a five-minute walk from Murodo Station, sometimes gets more than 20 meters because of snowdrifts. The famous "Snow Walls" are formed by expelling this heavy snow, and the 500-meter-long area with such snow walls is open to sightseers from mid-April to late May.

The Kurobe Dam, built at the upper stream of the Kurobe-gawa River, an arched concrete dam of 186 meters high, is the highest in Japan and is higher than a 50-floor skyscraper. From the dam's observatory, you see a panorama view of the Tateyama Mountain Range and the North Alpine. Visitors can see the dynamic water discharge at the dam from 26 June to 15 October.

Himeji Castle: A prominent castle designated as a World Cultural Heritage. The castle resembles the shape of a heron with spread wings.

The Himeji Castle is located in Himeji City in the western Hyogo. It was constructed in the mid-14th century, and after a three-layer castle tower was built by the order of the man of power Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century, Ikeda Terumasa, a feudal lord of the castle rebuilt it further in the 17th century. Its figure was likened as a white heron spreading its wings, and thus called the Hakuro-jo, or White Heron Castle. It was designated as a national treasure in 1931, and as the World Cultural Heritage in 1993.

The Tenshukaku (castle tower) is the main structure and has 5 stories in appearance but 6 stories inside and a first basement. All structures are covered with white plaster unique to Japan. The roofs are covered with kawara tiles and white plaster is applied to the joints. The sturdy, magnificent structure and elegant appearance, as well as complex and tactical defense devices make the Himeji Castle the most prominent castle in Japan.

The Castle hosts the Himeji Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Fair, cherry blossom viewing drum music performance and Princess Sen-hime Peony Festival in spring, Himeji Port Festival in summer, Moon Viewing Fair and Himeji All Japan Ceramics Market in autumn. Visitors never cease throughout the year. In the surrounding areas, there are a Japanese garden Koko-en, an affinity with the Castle, Otokoyama Sen-hime Tenmangu Shrine and Hyogo Historical Museum.

Indonesia: Bali? No it's not

Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park lies in the Wallacea Region of Indonesia, identified by WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The Park is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores at the border of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTP) provinces. It includes three major islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and numerous smaller islands together totaling 603 km2 of land. The total size of Komodo National Park is presently 1,817 km2. Proposed extensions of 25 km2 of land (Banta Island) and 479 km2 of marine waters would bring the total surface area up to 2,321 km2.

Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986. The park was initially established to conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1911 by J.K.H. Van Steyn. Since then conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.

The majority of the people in and around the Park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa), Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendents of the original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.

Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

There are presently almost 4,000 inhabitants living within the park spread out over four settlements (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, and Papagaran). All villages existed prior to 1980 before the area was declared a national park. In 1928 there were only 30 people living in Komodo Village, and approximately 250 people on Rinca Island in 1930. The population increased rapidly, and by 1999, there were 281 families numbering 1,169 people on Komodo, meaning that the local population had increased exponentially. Komodo Village has had the highest population increase of the villages within the Park, mostly due to migration by people from Sape, Manggarai, Madura, and South Sulawesi. The number of buildings in Kampung Komodo has increased rapidly from 30 houses in 1958, to 194 houses in 1994, and 270 houses in 2000. Papagaran village is similar in size, with 258 families totaling 1,078 people. As of 1999, Rinca’s population was 835, and Kerora's population was 185 people. The total population currently living in the Park is 3,267 people, while 16,816 people live in the area immediately surrounding the Park.

The average level of education in the villages of Komodo National Park is grade four of elementary school. There is an elementary school located in each of the villages, but new students are not recruited each year. On average, each village has four classes and four teachers. Most of the children from the small islands in the Kecamatan Komodo (Komodo, Rinca, Kerora, Papagaran, Mesa) do not finish elementary school. Less than 10% of those which do graduate from elementary school will continue to high school since the major economic opportunity (fishing) does not require further education. Children must be sent to Labuan Bajo to attend high school, but this is rarely done in fishermen’s families.

West Java

The enchanting land of Sunda stretches from the Sunda Strait in the West to the borders of Central Java in the east. The region is primarily mountainous, with rich green valleys hugging lofty volcanic peaks, many of which surround the capital of the province, Bandung. The history of West Java is a story of trade, spices, and the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms. In the late 1500’s the region was ruled from mighty Cirebon, which still survives as a sultanate today, although a shadow of its former glory. West Java was one of the first contact points in Indonesia for Indian traders and their cultural influences and it was here that the Dutch and British first set foot in the archipelago.

Bunaken Underwater National Park

Bunaken is one of the most spectacular spots for diving and admiring marine life. Other places nearby are also ranked among the favorites by locals and international tourists Located near Sulawesi or Celebes, Indonesia, Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen Island, Lembeh Strait are perfect destinations for amateur and professional divers.

Getting There

Where to Stay
Inns and hotels in Manado, or in Sulawesi Dive Quest on Bunaken island Liang beach, a small beach resort.

Moving Around
Explore the land on foot. Use a boat to move from one place to another.

Dining Guide
Various restaurants and cafes throughout Manado and the islands. Try their specialties: seafood and food made of coconuts!

Souvenir Tips
Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals, etc.

Other Things to See or Do

• Diving, swimming, snorkeling.
• Walking around on the beach.
• Sampling the tempting seafood cuisine.
• Ornitologists and amateur bird-watchers might find visiting Tangkoko Dua Sudara Nature Reserve entertaining.

Travel Tips

• Bring along your bathing suit, if you plan to swim. You can rent diving suits and equipments in Manado area, though. So no need to bring your own, unless you're a pro.
• Join a tour if you'll be diving for the first time.

Germany: The Country of Panzer and "NAZI"

Idyllic Route

The well-signposted Idyllic Route runs for 130 kilometres through an outstandingly beautiful holiday and recreation area, past forests, meadows, old mills and original remains or reconstructions of the limes, the boundary of the Roman empire. It leads through the Swabian-Franconian Forest Nature Reserve, one of southern Germany's most delightful areas for walking. Steep, tree-clad slopes, wide-open plateaus, long valleys and dense mixed forests full of mysterious sounds all add to the charms of the nature reserve. There are also fields, pastureland, meadows and forests woven together like patchwork dotted with hamlets and farms. Other features to look out for are the orchid-filled meadows in the valleys, hillside orchards and pastures and dramatic rock formations in the forests of the steep Keuper escarpments.

The Idyllic Route is perfect for walking, cycling and discovering an area with thundering waterfalls and tranquil lakes suitable for swimming. Visitors can admire impressive waterwheels and historical mills on burbling streams, or follow in the footsteps of the Romans. There are fascinating museums, neatly kept villages and romantic little towns all along the route - perfect for whiling away the hours. Priceless collections at a string of castles and palaces reflect the artistic passions of their owners, past and present. This circular route is also suitable for a cycle tour of the Swabian Forest, though touring or mountain bikes are recommended.

Nymphenburg Palace & Park, Munich

The Bavarian elector Ferdinand was so delighted at the birth of a much longed-for heir to his throne that he gave his wife a piece of land. That was in 1663, and the Wittelsbach Electress Henriette Adelaide von Savoyen built herself a “borgo de la ninfe”, a small summer villa with a garden. This was the predecessor of Nymphenburg Palace. At the start of the 18th century the building was extended on both sides, with residential pavilions connected by galleries being added. The exterior was remodelled in the French style and the modest palace transformed into a large, elegant summer residence. Nymphenburg is regarded as a European masterpiece, combining architecture and landscape design in seldom-seen harmony. At the beginning of the 19th century the leading landscape gardener Friedrich Ludwig Sckell transformed the margins of the park into an English landscaped garden with meandering paths and picturesque effects.

Schönbusch Park, Aschaffenburg

Schönbusch Park in Aschaffenburg, Lower Franconia, is one of Germany's oldest classical landscaped gardens. Starting in 1775, under Friedrich Carl von Erthal, Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell transformed what was then a hunting ground into an English landscaped garden. The park boasts an abundance of plants, a temple to friendship, a philosopher's house, an orangery, the Nilkheim chapel, Nilkheim model farm, shepherds' houses and a little village. The neo-classical Schönbusch garden palace gives visitors an insight into 18th century royal living in ten rooms furnished in Louis XVI style.

Cologne Cathedral

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, Cologne Cathedral is one of the finest church buildings in the Christian world. Gargantuan proportions and craftsmanship of unparalled quality have made the cathedral a defining example of the Gothic style.

The pinnacle of Gothic architecture
Cologne's mighty cathedral towers just a stone's throw from the banks of the Rhine. Modelled on a French design and built entirely in a high-Gothic style, it is Cologne's most famous landmark and one of the largest cathedrals in Germany. Its steep, vaulted ceilings are supported by more than one hundred pillars and light streams in through a multitude of stained-glass windows. The cathedral's most sacred treasure and the most important reliquary in the western world is the Shrine of the Three Magi, a magnificent gilded sarcophagus thought to hold the remains of the Three Wise Men. More than 500 steps lead up the south tower, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.

Bamberg - UNESCO World Heritage Site

One thousand years of history have shaped the Franconian imperial and episcopal town of Bamberg, leaving behind many valuable architectural monuments such as medieval churches and baroque town houses. The magic of the past hangs like a veil over the town.

Magnificent architecture steeped in a thousand years of history
Bamberg's fascinating historical townscape has developed over more than a 1,000 years. At the centre of this world heritage town is the largest preserved old quarter in Europe. Around 2,400 listed buildings and the centuries-old garden quarter make up the town's unique cultural heritage. The façades of its buildings are richly decorated in fascinating detail with spectacular ornamentation.

Italy: New and Undiscovered

The Castles of Trentino

Trentino: a land of mountains, of extraordinary views, of forests, of waterfalls and meadows. And a land of castles: where there reigns a distinctive atmosphere which you discern as soon as you go through the massive entrance of a recently restored manor house, walk through the lists where tournaments were once held and enter frescoed rooms where the shadows might cloak the presence of figures from distant legend; castles whose ruins, encountered unexpectedly on walks through the countryside, radiate mystery, their square stones bringing to life the shouts of soldiers who once guarded the walls, the loud cries of the grooms in the stables and the soft voices of the knights keeping a vigil in the castle chapel.

At the Foot of the Alps

Join us for an exciting new tour in Northern Italy: in the scenic Piedmont region, Valle d'Aosta, that is the smallest region of Italy and Lombardy including Lake Maggiore, Lake Como (towns of Como, Bellagio, Varenna, Mennagio) and the city of Milan.

In the Silence of the Nuraghi

This excursion leads us to Sardinia, a land of ancient civilizations which have left behind their Tomb of the Giants, their Domus de Janas (Houses of the Spirits) and the Nuraghi towers whose origins are lost in the mists of antiquity, a land of rocky coasts

and wild, untamed mountains, whose heritage has been jealously preserved in its traditions and folklore.

Tuscany: The Birthplace of Renaissance
Join us for an exciting new tour in Northern Tuscany: the landscape is marked by a vast range of features, from marble quarries to market gardens, and from mountain ranges and nature reserves to wonderful sandy beaches and medieval towns.

Again, please contact your, travel agency to find out more about Tuscany. Enjoy your stay at Italy.