Travel Trips

When you travel Australia, you aren’t just a straw-hatted, sandal-footed tourist daintily stepping out of your comfort zone. Of course, you can be like that, but once in Australia, you’ll realise soon enough that you want to be someone else braver.

To travel Australia is to be an explorer, brave, daring, uncompromising, and wide-eyed at every new thing that’ll come your way. To travel Australia is to loosen your belt and jump into the unknown. Here’s your itinerary, mate!:

Bungle Bungles
Simply beholding the Bungle Bungle in Purnululu National Park is both stupefying and ticklish to the senses. The Bungle Bungle is an unabashed waltz of orange and black stripes of silica and algae, flanked by beehive-like mounds posing with their chins up. A crazy but wondrous trick of geography. Bungle Bungle breathes new meaning to the word “marvelous.”

Daintree Rainforest
One of the oldest rainforest in the planet, the Daintree Rainforest is home to an inexhaustible number of plants and wildlife; 65% of Australia’s bat and butterfly population roam freely here. The Daintree Forest lies north of Cairn and spans some 1,200 square kilometres.

Tasmanian Wilderness
The Tasmanian Wilderness is as grand as its official name goes: Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Spanning 1.38 million hectares, it is one of the largest conservation reserves in Australia. Simultaneously, a true refuge, a playful temple, and solemn carnival of rare and endangered wildlife.

Fraser Island
When the camping bug strikes you, then head for Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world accessible by a ferry and a four-wheel drive. With its immaculately white pure silica beaches, incredibly pristine lakes, and stunning rainforests, Fraser Island is the perfect campsite. Don’ t forget to ask the locals about the legend of the island according to the aborigines!

So there! Eight miraculous and breathtaking places to dive into when you travel Australia. Don’t just get settled in Australia; go for the unsettling.

National Visas
Website: www.nationalvisas.com.au
E-mail: webmaster@nationalvisas.com.au
Address: 3/118 Church Street
Hawthorn, Victoria
Australia 3122
Phone: +61(0) 3 9697 4922
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9815 1544

[tags]australian immigration,australia immigration,australia visa,australian visa,australian working visa[/tags]

The weather patterns in Alaska can be extreme and quite unpredictable. You may be bathing in the sunlight for weeks before being blown out into the Pacific. The temperatures vary from a high of 100 degrees to a low of negative 80 degrees. Make sure you know what to expect depending on the month you choose to travel in.

June - August

The summer months are perhaps the most exciting time of the year. The sun shines nearly all day long here making for some very short nights. The sun energizes people as it refuses to go down. June 21st is the longest day of the year and it shines for 21 hours in Alaska that day. Even throughout the summer, you can expect some longer than normal daylight hours. June is the driest and the best month in the summer to travel. Alaska is generally warm depending on where you go. In the Arctic it is of course cooler than in the southern region. In the Artic, the snow could stick around until mid-June making for a cold and muddy experience up through the trails in the mountains. July is warmer than June is but not nearly as wet as in August. August is the rainiest time of the year so make sure to pack a raincoat and umbrella.

Summer does have one drawback while all the tourists flood to Alaska, high prices. The tourist industry has but 90 days to make all of the money they can to live on for that year. Working 3 months and having 9 months off pushes them to make as much money as possible and the higher the prices the better for them. July is the busiest travel month and this is where they make most of their money. From mid-June to mid-August is where the bulk of the tourists come to experience Alaska and it really drops off before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. Cruises are very popular from May to October.

May & September

These 2 months are still particularly good for travel. May is when the earlier tourists start flying in or coming in on cruises. By September, things are calming down and the remaining tourists are hoping to steal the last good deal of the year. May is warmer than September but this can vary. It depends greatly on where you travel. The farther north you go and the earlier in May you decide to travel; you will experience more chilly weather along with snow and mud. Alaska does not have a spring, they have a “breakup” where the snow and ice start to melt and cover everything with mud.

September can be a hit or miss month. You could experience warm and dry weather but the opposite is very true too. September can throw a foot and a half of rain on you while the sun barely peeks out. The weather patterns can be unpredictable but the sights could be the best if you catch it just right. The lights reflected from the snowy tundra and the boreal forest prompt an amazing display of bright, vivid colors in the sky.

October, November & April

These transition months take us from the busy summer months to the colder months in the winter. Tourists find little to do during this time. October is very wet and November is the start of winter however there is still not enough snow to ski or enjoy other winter activities. April is the end of winter when the snow melts and the mud forces many places to close.

December - March

The winter is the most exciting time of the year when anything that can be done with snow and ice is. February though mid-March is the peak of the winter where the sun gives you longer days. Many activities happen including skiing, snowmobile races, ice carving, snowshoeing, dog mushing and more. Winter is also the time for Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous in February and Iditarod Dog Sled race in March.

Michael Russell

Your independent guide to Alaska

[tags]Alaska[/tags]

Whether you’re planning on teaching English in Mexico or are just traveling in Mexico, you still have to eat, don’t you? So here are some of my recommendations for eating out inexpensively in the Historic District of Mexico City.

Caf

A visa is an official stamp of the embassy or high commission of a country in an individual’s passport or traveling document officially authorizing him to travel to that country for a period of time stated on the visa for a specific purpose.

An individual may be denied entry into a country of which he has no valid visa to enter and may be repatriated if he manages to enter the country the country but later discovered.

Any person that satisfies the visa rules and regulations may be issued a visa. More often than not, people get denied visas not because they are not qualified for it, but because they fail to use simple knowledge to understand what a visa officer really requires from them. Below are suggestions of what to do before applying for a visa to a country with high visa-rejection rate:

Passport:

Is your passport virgin or not? 70 percent of your success in securing a visa from a high visa-rejection country depends on the answer to this question according to experts.
A virgin passport is one that has just been issued newly (or in earlier period) but has got no visa of any country in it. It means that either the bearer has not traveled out of the shores of his country of residence or that no country has found him worthy of being issued a visa etc.
A passport that has lost its virginity is the direct opposite of a virgin one. The bearer has probably been to many countries or that he has got one or more visas from other countries without having physically been to them. This means that those countries had confidence in him therefore issuing him the visas.

The important thing to learn is: for a higher visa success rate, never make a visa application to a high visa-rejection country with a virgin passport. If you do, the probability is having your passport stamped “visa refused” thereby discrediting your passport for future visa applications even in other countries’ embassies and of course, the visa fee is usually non-refundable.

You’d probably be thinking, “How do I get my passport ‘disvirgined’?” The answer is through Travel and Tours companies. There are lots of them. For a modest fee, you’d get expert advice and assistance in acquiring any visa.

Other questions you need answered before hitting the embassy include:

(a) Do I have a valid letter of invitation?

(b) Have I made a hotel reservation or do I have a pre-arranged place to stay abroad?

(c) What is my financial status? Have I got my bank’s statement?

(d) Have I ever been denied visa by any country before?

(e) Have I been convicted of any criminal offence before?

(f) Who is sponsoring my travel?

(g) What is the purpose of my travel? Etc.

Of all these, the most important is having other countries’ visas in your passport.

Awele Odigo is the Head, Web Resources unit of Jobaweb Group:http://jobaweb.com, Nigeria Voice Group; http://www.nigeriavoice.com and Cross Gospel International ;http://www.crossgospel.org. He’s been to all the continents of the world and has garnered a lot of travel experience.

[tags]visa,travel,embassy travel visa[/tags]

Malawi is the ‘warm heart of Africa’, Malawi is a stable, safe African country known for its people with their welcoming smiles and friendly nature. The centre-piece of its tourism, though, is the enchanting Lake Malawi, Livingstone’s ‘Lake of Stars’. Boasting a rich diversity of wildlife, fish and bird life as well as flora, the country is ideal for nature lovers with its Lake Malawi Marine Park having been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Varied treasures including many unique species await bird watchers, anglers, outdoor and water sport enthusiasts and game viewers. Other ways to enjoy the country include sampling the local ‘chambo’ fish or a Malawi Gin and Tonic and buying souvenirs made by highly skilled craftsmen, such as chief’s chairs, floor mats, wooden masks, traditional cane items, baskets, carvings and raffia beach hats.

CAPITAL:

Lilongwe

CLIMATE:

Tropical with wet and dry seasons. Dry season (Apr-Nov) is also a good time to visit. Warm months are mid-Aug to Nov, with October the hottest. Rains (Nov-Apr) are intermittent. In winter (dry season) there are high winds and some dust storms.

CURRENCY:

1 Malawi Kwacha = 100 Tambala. USD or Pounds Sterling traveller’s cheques are recommended. Credit cards are not commonly accepted, except in big hotels. Foreign exchange shortages can be a problem. The import of foreign currency is unlimited if declared. The export of foreign currency is allowed up to the amount declared upon arrival.

ELECTRICITY:

230 volts, 50Hz. Plugs are 3-pin square.

HEALTH:

A yellow fever inoculation is an official requirement for travellers coming from an infected country or area. Visitors are advised to take pre-arrival precautions against malaria (risk exists throughout the year in the whole country), Hepatitis A, polio and typhoid. Other health concerns are meningitis (depending on time of year and area visited); insect-borne diseases; cholera (officially considered infected); bilharzia (some stretches of Lake Malawi: it is recommended that you don’t swim in stillwater pools or ponds in rivers below the plateaux or on the shores of Lake Malawi away from the sandy beaches of lake-side tourist resorts, Lake Malawi should not be used as a source of drinking water unless water has been boiled or filtered first); pollen (people with allergies or asthma may suffer discomfort from pollen etc.); poor medical facilities; unavailability of medicines; and HIV/AIDS.

LANGUAGE:

Chichewa is the national language and widely spoken. English is the official language.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

New Year’s Day (1 Jan); John Chilibwe Day (15 Jan); Martyr’s Day (3 Mar); Good Friday (9Apr); Easter Monday (12 Apr); Labour Day (1 May); Freedom Day (14 Jun); Independance Day (16 Jul); Mother’s Day (9 Oct); Christmas Day (25 Dec); Boxing Day (26 Dec)

SHOPPING:

Wood and soapstone carvings; wood and cane furniture; pottery; beadwork; colourful fabrics; raffia items; instruments.

SOCIAL CONVENTIONS:

Over 99 percent of the population is African, with the largest group being Chewa. The main religious beliefs are traditional. Suits or jacket and tie are suitable for business meetings. Although the dress code is now more relaxed than used to be the case, visitors should take care not to offend local sensitivities.

TIME DIFFERENCE:

GMT +2

TIPPING:

Tipping is permitted.

TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION:

Lake Malawi:

One of the world’s biological wonders and Africa’s third-largest lake, Lake Malawi forms an inland sea with a rich marine life surrounded by palm-fringed beaches and lively villages; sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving and game fishing for Tiger Fish and Lake Salmon can be done here; Lake Malawi Marine Park in the south has been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site and protects a unique diversity of tropical fish (more than 400 species have been identified, most of which are unique to these waters), a renowned colony of otters and a rich birdlife.

Kasungu National Park:

Miombo woodland interspersed with sandy plains and wide rivers; ideal for game viewing and bird watching especially at Lifupa Dam; of particular interest is Kasungu’s famous elephants; Stone and Iron Age sites and rock paintings can be found.

Zomba Plateau:

Stands 900m above the city of Zomba covered in evergreen forest and verdant grassland; home to Blue Monkeys, rare montane forest birds and epiphytic orchids; ideal for fishing in the Mulunguzi Dam and hiking; the viewing points of Queen’s View and Emperor’s View allows visitors to take in the invigorating air; of interest in Zomba city are the traditional African market and botanical gardens.

Nyika National Park:

The Northern Highlands form the greatest wilderness area in Malawi; the Nyika Plateau holds Africa’s highest concentration of roan antelope, great herds of eland and other mountain game, which can be viewed from horseback; other activities include mountain biking, birding, trout fishing and hiking; alpine flowers, orchids and proteas cover the high meadows; nearby visit the Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve.

Liwonde National Park:

Malawi’s premier game area and habitat of the Big Five, this riverine park on the bank of the Shire River features many hippo, elephant, crocodile, lion, leopard and birds; a must-do is the leisurely boat safari upriver into Lake Malombe; the Park contains the only population of Lilian’s lovebird in Malawi.

Lengwe National Park:

Home to the attractive Nyala Antelope, buffalo, Livingstone’s Suni and birds like the Gorgeous Bush-strike, African Broadbill and Crested Guineafowl.

Lilongwe:

Also known as the ‘Garden City’ for its colourful flowering trees and wooded slopes of indigenous trees; visit the Kitu Botanical Gardens; Chinese Pagoda and Water Gardens; Capital Hill; National Library; Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary; New Market; Old Market; Old Town; and Asian Quarter.

Blantyre:

Founded in 1876, this is the commercial capital of Malawi; surrounded by hills and mountains; visit the nearby Michiru Mountain Park; Thyolo tea district; Shire river and game parks; Majete and Mwabyi Game Reserves and curio shops.

Mount Mulanje:

An isolated massif containing 20 granite peaks, the highest of which soars to 3000m offers serious climbers several challenging routes; spectacular waterfalls, forests and tea plantations decorate the area; of botanical interest is the Mulanje cedar, believed to be unique to this area.

Viphya Plateau:

A must-do for bird watchers; the Luwawa Dam has established itself as an adventure centre, with canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing and more available.

Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.za Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za

[tags]African,Travel Tips,Malawi,Gerald Crawford,South Africa[/tags]

Switzerland is known for numerous items: its cold climate, mountainous topography and its political neutrality, which is possibly brought on by its topographical seclusion and being one of the top mountainous countries in Europe. In actuality, numerous Swiss people, in particular those who reside in the Swiss Alps still preserve their cultivation, traditions and Alpine characteristics, pretty much untainted by the marks of the modern civilizations with predominance habitants build around Laax.

More than 70 percent of its land space is covered by the Swiss Alps which is known for its jagged peaks and steep gorges. For instance, The Pennine Alps range, contains the Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa which stands at 15,203 feet and is currently Switzerland’s highest peak . This is one of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland. Of course, mountains there are not all so gigantic in height. The Jura, for instance, are smaller and lower. This is a favourite travel spot in Switzerland because of its cross-country skiing. Swiss watchmaking first began in the Jura Mountains. For mountain lovers, do visit the Mattehorn which towers overhead the state Valais Canton at 14,688 feet

When traveling to Switzerland, one item that any individual have to bear in mind is that it’s going to be indeed chilling. On no account forget to pack a winter coat peculiarly when you are travelling in winter months or if you are going to the Alps, where it can be really numbing. The resort of Chateau-d’Oex, which is nestled in a valley in the Alps is renowned for its skiing, hiking and hot-air balloon activities.

Switzerland is otherwise known for its picturesque views of lakes and streams. These bodies of water furnish travelers with a pleasant scene. The river Rhine is principal river in the country but there are other river systems that one should also look into, including Rhine, Ticino, and Inn. Lakes in the Alpine region are gorgeous and any traveler in Switzerland will instantly fall in love with its serene and glassy surface. Amongst those that they must visit are the Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano, Lake Maggiore, where Switzerland’s lowest point lies; Lake of Neuchatel, and Lake of Lucerne.

Another lake that is deserving of note is Lake Geneva, whish is considered to be Central Europe’s largest lake. The Staubbach Falls in Bern is one of the must-visit spot.

One of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland is the Gothic Cathedral designed by Matth’us Ensinger from Ulm. It is an instance of 14th to 16th century architecture. Various international agencies can also be found in the capital city, including the Universal Postal Union.

Zurich is the financial center as well as an significant commercial and manufacturing center. The city of Basel is noted for its textile and clothing industry. Lausanne, on the other hand, is a city in the western part of Switzerland. It is residence to such prominent celebrities as Voltaire, Gibbon, and Rousseau as well as the center for Swizerland’s iron industry. Although widely known for its watchmaking and jewelry industry, Geneva is also the world’s diplomatic center. It is where the headquarters of the United Nations (UN). The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is also located there too.

The author of this article is Andrew Tan EC, webmaster of MyTravel Networks at My Travel Resort, My World Travel Guides and My Travel Insurancess, which offers various travelling information before you embark on the perfect travel plan.

[tags]Travel, Switzerland[/tags]

When I saw a group of middle-aged men and women in biking helmets but no bikes the other day in downtown Washington DC I thought it was just a group that was walking too fast.

But their limbs were not moving at all. In fact they looked like some statues transported in the back of a low-riding pickup truck.

Then when I got near, my jaw dropped - they were all riding Segways, the bike-like transportation contraption that sells about five grand a piece.

At a closer scrutiny I also realized that this was an organized group, with a leader up front, explaining the various landmarks as they cruised along silently and effortlessly, each feeling a bit self-conscious perched on their unusual mode of transportation.

What I witnessed was the City Segway Tours, a company offering 3-4 hour long tours of the downtown for $70 a pop. What an idea. I understand they hold similar tours in Atlanta, Budapest, Chicago, New Orleans, Paris and Vienna as well.

I think it is a very interesting way to see the White House, National Archives, Washington Monument, Capitol building, and a half a dozen world-class museums right there on the mall within a few hours.

Try to do all that on foot, you’ll be so tired you won’t be able to walk the next day.

And try to do the same with a car, you’ll go crazy because there are no parking spots readily available in downtown DC (visitors, beware!).

Thus a Segway sounds like a happy medium in between that provides both speed and ease of navigation in congested but worth-to-see downtown DC. Smart idea indeed.

Next time you are visiting the nation’s capital, check out the Segway crowd.

Ugur Akinci, Ph.D. is a Creative Copywriter, Editor, an experienced and award-winning Senior Technical Communicator specializing in fundraising packages, direct sales copy, web content, press releases, movie reviews and hi-tech documentation. He has worked as a Technical Writer for Fortune 100 corporations since 1999.

He is the editor of PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SAT MATH SUCCESS web site http://www.privatetutor.us

In addition to being an Ezine Articles Expert Author, he is also a Senior Member of the Society for Technical Communication (STC), and a Member of American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI).

A true movie fan since he was a child, Akinci provides FREE MOVIE PLOT IDEAS every day of the year at SCRIPT BOILER. Visit http://scriptboiler.blogspot.com today.

You are most welcomed to visit his COPYWRITING WEB SITE http://www.writer111.com for more information on his multidisciplinary background, writing career, and client testimonials.

[tags]Travel - Washington DC - City Segway Tours,ugur akinci writer editor[/tags]

Southern Thailand islands also known as the “Paradise” Islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. More than 12,000,000 tourists have visited Thailand in 2005, and the majority of them had left the Bangkok International Airport immediately after their arrival and headed straight to the Southern Islands. Some of the visitors were fascinated by the stories of people who were caught in the charms of the unforgettable ambience of the islands, some of them were taken by images they saw on the web, while others were convinced as per the words of their travel agent that the Thai Islands were indeed the ultimate tourist destination that fits every taste, age, budget and personality type. This can partly explain the massive flow of honeymooners, backpackers, families-on-vacation, partygoers, divers and many others to the Thai Islands every year.

However, the inexperienced Thailand traveler may be unconscious to the fact that a satisfying vacation is not a surefire thing even in a place nick named Island Paradise. In order to be successful, enjoyable and fulfilling, your vacation must be thoroughly planned. Unfamiliar destinations often hide little unknown secrets, which hold the enormous potential to make the desired positive change in your vacation.

This article will discuss the biggest mistakes you can make prior and during your visit to the Thai Islands. Adhering to or ignoring the five amendments below can literally make or break your vacation in the Southern Thailand Islands.

1. Mistake 1: choosing your vacation island spontaneously. Web pictures of tropical islands often make them look almost identical. The inexperienced traveler is likely to assume that no matter where you go in Southern Thailand Islands - you will bump into the same picturesque beach with white sands, turquoise water and a single coconut tree. Falling into the illusion of images while choosing your vacation island out of pure impulse can be a very disappointing experience in case the final destination island does not meet your needs, your personality or expectations at all. To avoid this mistake, define your preferences before hand, make a dedicated research prior to choosing your destination by gathering the relevant information using guidebooks in addition to using the Internet. As you choose the island that fits your needs, pay close attention to the following points:

a. The level of tourist development. Some travelers like their islands loaded with tourist facilities (i. e. Phuket, Koh Samui), whereas others prefer the classic touch “old school” isolated touch (i. e. Koh Phangan, Khao Lak).

b. Nightlife - Phuket, Koh Samui and at lesser extent Krabi offer a thriving nightlife, whereas Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao are quiet and drowsy.

c. Diving sites - Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao offer the best diving sites in Southern Thailand.

d. The prevalent level of accommodation. Phuket and Koh Phi Phi offer a immense variety of luxury hotels, while Koh Phangan and Koh Tao offer mostly basic (not necessary low standard) accommodation.

2. Mistake 2: Assuming that a great vacation can be carried out at a very low budget. Some travelers tend to wrongly assume, that Thailand being a country with developing economy will provide everything including a high standard hospitalization in ridiculously cheap prices. This is partially right, since the local tourism industry suggests an inexpensive travel opportunities to backpackers. However, the spoiled tourist who is used to savor on luxury westernized accommodation will find out the hard way that in order to meet his or her traveling expectations the expenses are appropriate to what is offered. To avoid this mistake and eliminate serious deviations from the planned budget - make your research to learn about price gaps in Southern Thailand Islands. For instance, one should know that staying in some islands (i. e. Koh Phi Phi) is expected to be more expensive, while staying in other islands (i. e. Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) can be significantly cheaper. To avoid any disappointments related to over expenses, I recommend adhering to the following guidelines:

a. Avoid planning a budget on the basis of someone else’s estimations, especially if that person visited the Thai Islands many years ago; spent the vacation in another island than the one you chose; much younger than yourself/ or prefers a different life standard.

b. Make an informed decision regarding the desired level of accommodation. The basic accommodation that includes a clean air-conditioned room and western style bathroom can be booked on relatively low, albeit not ridiculous, price. Contrary to that, a luxury accommodation (that kind of accommodation is quite common in Phuket and Koh Samui) may be almost as expensive as the hotels in your neighboring country.

c. Although checking the room rates is possible using the Internet - the prices of meals should be carefully checked as well. Don’t assume that no matter where you eat - the meal will be cheap. During my first visit to Thailand, I was very surprised to receive a check of the same value as in my home country. Now I know, that the Southern Thailand Islands offer a myriad of western style restaurants with western style prices. Therefore, before you enter a well-designed restaurant - check the menu and make clear budget estimation.

3. Mistake 3: choosing your vacation beach spontaneously. This is similar to mistake number one - but probably easier to correct, because checking other beaches on the destination is easier logistically and cheaper than checking other islands. However, the “wrong” beach choice can make you feel that you haven’t exploited the full potential of your vacation, or that you have wasted significant part of it. For instance, during my first visit in Koh Phangan I found out two days before the end of my vacation, that my “perfect” beach is located on the other side of the island. The following tips can help you avoid a similar situation:

a. The most developed and crowdie beaches on most islands are located in proximity to the airport (in case there is an airport in your island) or to one of the main seaports.

b. In case you prefer the above type of beaches - be aware of the fact that some of them, especially in Koh Samui and Phuket, are not family friendly.

c. The old school quiet and picturesque beaches are always on the other side of the island. If the “old school” beach is what you are looking for - don’t give up even if the way to Thailand was long and exhausting, and try to make a small effort to cross the island on your way to the opposite side; it will be well worth your while.

4. Mistake 4: insisting on Westernized food. Some of us tend to worry about experimenting with an unfamiliar food. The Thai tourist industry is aware of this fact; therefore the supply of Western style restaurants in Southern Thailand Islands is huge. Having said that, limiting yourself to these restaurants could be a huge mistake, since the prices for western cuisine are much higher compared to the ones in authentic local restaurants; and even worse- you miss out on one of the most important experiences of the Thai culture - the superior Thai cuisine, probably one of the best in the world. To avoid this mistake, don’t hesitate entering small restaurants with ridiculously neglected interior design, plastic maps and un-plastered walls. These restaurants’ owners are probably the worst marketers - but usually are superior cooks. Your meal in one of these restaurants will often be unbelievably cheap, tasty and mostly made of fresh sizzling ingredients. You will fantasize about these meals long after you have left the island.

5. Mistake 5: To take your big business suitcase to an island that could be only accessed by sea. A big suitcase is of course very convenient [in Europe]: using it, you can pack everything you need; it can be carried easily thanks to those little wheels; and it makes you look very representative. However, taking a big suitcase to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao is not something I would recommend. The platforms in the piers are extremely narrow and occasionally unstable. So if you’re really lucky - your big suitcase will be safe. If you’re a little bit less lucky - it can fall into the water. If you ran out of luck - you can fall into the water together with your suitcase. I seriously think a back bag would be your best bet. Just for the record, the huge suitcase that was taken by yours truly to her first trip to Koh Phangan was left somewhere in the jungle to frighten local monkeys.

So, on the next time the idea of heading the Thailand Islands crosses your mind, as tempting as it may be, try not to succumb to rumors and fascinating imagery. A thorough research and planning ahead may take some time and effort on your side, but it will be more than worth your while.

Independent researcher, MA in anthropology, and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website: a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phangan, Thailand, which includes information articles, tips, advice and a message board. To visit Koh Phangan Experience Guide, click here: http://kohphangan.eternaltravel.net/

[tags]article submission, articles, writers, writing, publishing, ezine, email marketing, email newsletter, email[/tags]

In the past, before the advent of the Internet, it has largely been too time consuming or too expensive for the average consumer to deal directly with the travel operator and personally arrange every aspect of their holiday. Travel agents became a trusted and speedy medium via which the holiday consumer could book a ‘package’ that would otherwise be impossible for the independent consumer to find.

The role of the travel agent includes three key tasks:

1) Perform the function of the information broker, passing information between buyers and suppliers

2) Process transactions including printing tickets and forwarding money to suppliers

3) Advise travellers on places to go, things to do and other important information

These three tasks have been lampooned by the information and facilities provided on the Internet. Consumers have recently realised that it is possible to research their planned holiday fully online. Users can find out about specific regional information at the click of a mouse. Small local hotels, specific local attractions and regional tours can be researched with ease before a booking is considered.

In the early years of the Internet, consumers tended not to trust booking online. It was perceived that parting with credit card details over the Internet was not a secure method of payment. Users instead tended to research everything they wanted to know before hand - and then contact their travel agent either face-to-face or over the phone to book their holiday package.

The Internet offers an effective means for developing a single and sustainable electronic infrastructure for information gathering and business transactions for both travellers and suppliers. It is an ideal method for people to source information on travel. It is therefore essential for travel-related Websites to offer useful, pertinent and easy-to-find information alongside a booking facility if appropriate. The Internet can be used to fully research a destination, book all aspects of the holiday including travel and communicate others who have the same ideas or have been through similar experiences. It gives travellers an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast everything on offer before they make a purchase.

The information available online is continually being reformatted and presented in a more logical, easy-to-use and read format. The volume of consumers that rely on this information to make travel-related decisions will therefore continue to rise. In addition, features and benefits of using the Internet to research and book holidays are improving and being added to all the time. For example, consumers no longer have to receive printed tickets from the travel operator. They simply print out any information that they require themselves after they receive it automatically via email.

The Internet has meant that people can now easily plan trips for themselves. This has not only opened up a greater amount of discounts available to the general public, but also given people the fun and enjoyment of planning and booking their own trips.

Are travel agents a thing of the past? The future isn’t looking too rosy for them. They might perhaps retain their presence in certain specialist markets, where they can offer a unique service to individual market segments - but if you’re a ‘love all, serve all’ travel agent you’ve probably seen your income levels drop significantly over the last few years.

David Bain is founder of the UK tourist information website http://www.TREKtheUK.com. TREKtheUK is a comprehensive UK tourist information guide featuring lots of places to go and things to do.

[tags]travel agent, internet travel, travel business, specialist travel agent, e travel, etravel[/tags]

The artificial island of KoKred lies cuddled between two bends of the Chao Phyra River at a point where the river wends to its narrowest. It is a counterfeit stricture, as this straight and narrow channel was cut to speed the journey of river traffic as it plied between Ayutthaya and the Gulf of Thailand.

This 10 kilometer square island is a delight. There are no cars, and the roads are narrow concrete strips splayed out around the island. The only traffic is an occasional motorbike or bicycle. What bliss, a stone’s thrown from Bangkok, a city that is being strangled by the motor vehicle!

and the roads are narrow concrete strips splayed out around the island. The only traffic is an occasional motorbike or bicycle. What bliss, a stone’s thrown from Bangkok, a city that is being strangled by the motor vehicle.

As you step off the ferry that has brought you across the river from Pakkred in a brief minute or two, you step back into a Thailand of 50 years ago. This island is home to a community of Mon people who came here from their homeland in the river Kwai valley north of Kanchanaburi . The temples and Buddha shrines scattered around the island are visible evidence of this neo-Burmese heritage.

The island is the site of a pottery industry. The rich clay soil provides an ideal medium for the red terracotta earthenware pots and water containers that were the mainstay of this economy. Sadly, others elsewhere, produce alternatives at a cheaper price and brick kilns have outlived their usefulness. Now the potters have turned their attention to the tourists who visit the island, usually on a Sunday in one of the large tour boats that sail up river from Taksin Bridge. However, the rich soil also supports a verdant landscape of palms, and fruit trees giving the place a wonderfully tranquil and rural feel. As a visitor you can walk around the island, hire a bicycle or zip quickly by on one of several motor cycle taxis. It’s quite a long walk, just over 5 kilometers, but a wonderful one at that! The path takes you under plantain tress with bunches of bananas overhanging the walk way and down below limes, papayas, pomeloes and all sorts of fruit I cannot identify grow in profusion.

For the really discerning travellers, there are rooms available to rent a very reasonable Bt 200 per night. The KoKred Restaurant has a verandah that juts out over the river. It is an ideal venue to eat or just sit, sip a drink and watch the sand barges and other water traffic as they glide by.

You don’t need to take the big cruise boats, chock full of tourists. Instead make you way to Victory Monument on the BTS. This missile like structure, which commemorates the Indo-Chinese War of 1940-41, serves as transport hub for Bangkok. Walk along the arterial skyway, and below you will see a sea of bus stands. Go as far as you can, descend and then wait for a 166 Bus. This will take you to Pakkred by motorway, thus avoiding the worst of the traffic jams. On reaching Pakkred, which is the terminus. You alight obliquely opposite the TMB bank, walk straight ahead until you encounter the motorcycle taxi-rank situated at the rear entrance of Jusco. Mumble something about KoKred and the driver will take you to the ferry stage at Wat Sana Nua. Enjoy the trip!

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[tags]Thailand,Bangkok,KoKred[/tags]