Paseo del Mar na Zamboanga

Paseo del Mar na Zamboanga covers 2.5 hectares situated along Fort Pilar walls. The seafront parkway faces the scenic of Basilan Island. Paseo del Mar is designed for the whole family and barkada to spend some leisure time such as picnic. Early morning people could enjoy its fresh air while taking a jogging, brisk walking or plainly relaxing. At late afternoon, you can see the picturesque of the sunset together with the city's busy port area. And at night enjoy the beauty of Paseo del Mar's colorful decorative lamps, soothing breeze of the air, entertaining bands, numerous kind of foods and drinks. The place is also secured because there are cops who provides twenty four hour security.

Latvia - Sun City, A Hobbit Dwelling Place

Latvian millionaire started near the town of Cesis (Latvia) a fantastic project.

He purchased over 3000 hectares of wild forest, a terrain rich in hills and water. And that's how this spectacular "Sun City" was built. When I look at the pictures, it reminds me of Hobbit Village from Tolkien's "Lord of The Rings". The area is full of lush green nature, serenity seems built into the landscape.

If you want to live at Sun City (which is as away from the concept of "Sin City" as possible), there are special rules to go by, including a routine different from a common life.

First, three-storey houses are made of environmentally friendly materials constructed in a manner, which takes the terrain into account. The specific design of the houses makes the windows of each house not visible to other houses.

Secondly, near each of the 300 houses there is a small lake and forest, all of it included in cost of land (from 0,4 to 1,3 ha each).

Thirdly, all houses are equipped with central sewer (there is a special equipment laid under the roots of pine and fir trees!), High-speed Internet, electricity, and each house has a geothermal heat pump with borehole 90-100m deep, which converts the energy of the earth into the heat. The amound of heat produced is enough to provide enough energy to heat the house (and water) all year round. The need for using additional traditional firewood heating may only occur during some severe winter days. Of course, a fireplace is also available in every home. Additionally, garbage collection and other urban amenities are also available.

Fourth, in this unique forest city, there are some more special rules - for example, it is forbidden to build a fence and have a guard dog (even if it's a chain dog). Dogs are allowed only in the houses. The reason for this rule is because of roe deer and other wild animals roaming freely in this "city", and barking dogs simply would chase them away.

For the Russian and Belarusian consumers, owner of Sun City offers special conditions - the sale of land with the house and unique postal address, the plot can be issued as a "production area" This entitles those customers to having a year-round "Schengen area" (very handy for those businessmen, who have their companies outside the EU).

Just an example for land and house pricing: plot Tilbites with a three-story house which includes all the necessary amenities, and also has a lake and forest area of 0.44 ha costs as much as 94000 Euros. The design of each house is unique, there are no identical buildings in there.

The Sun City lies in Cesis, about 80 km from Riga, the Latvian Capital City (about 50mins by car).

LINKS:
The "Sun City" website: http://www.amatciems.lv/rus/ideja.html
More information and source pictures: http://ochag7.narod.ru/351.htm

Travel Tips

Traveling involves MONEY thus KEEP YOUR POCKET READY at all times. Here's a money saving travel tips that will surely help you:

• Target your Destination - if you plan to visit a certain place, search the place through internet or from common friends and make a lists of a must see sightseeing attractions within the area.


• Budget - Always have an extra money on your pocket in case your planned budget exists its limits.


• Have a guidebook with you - If you're not familiar with the place or if it's your first visit always have a guidebook or a small map of the place.


• Pack Smart - Don't bring too much baggage. Pack those items which are really in need.


• Gadgets - Always have these with you (a camera or video cam). People are fond of taking pictures in every place they landed and it has become a trademark to take pictures as a souvenir.

***Have Fun!

The Himalayas beckon..

I am off to Leh-Ladakh for about ten days. Its been rather chaotic planning and finalising the itinerary and finally with the help of Satya and Arun, Sharath and I are leaving in a couple of days..I will see you all in some time..do have a great week.

Midway Glass Boat Adventure

Riding in a “glass boat” is a superb adventure! Philippines have a variety of beach resorts which offers this type of escapade. One of the most visited resorts in Initao (Misamis Oriental’s province) is Midway White Beach Resort in which a traveler will get to experience the glass boat voyage. In the midst of the ride different underwater environment will be seen such as: corals, different species and colors of fishes and other marine creatures. The crystal clear water of the place and its fresh sea breeze makes the trip more soothing.

"A glass bottom boat is a boat with sections of glass (or other suitable transparent material) below the waterline allowing passengers to observe the underwater environment from within the boat."

Resorts in Maramag

Maramag, a first class municipality of Bukidnon, Philippines. The province name derived from “Ag Ramag”, a manobo term for “Ag Ramag Ki Dini” which means “Let us eat our breakfast here.”

"The story goes that the Manobos were constantly in conflict with the Maranaos for supremacy over the locality. Each time they set out for the battle they would stop on the bank of Pulangi River where flat stones that serve as their tables abound the area. Atop of these, they would draw their plans and eat their breakfast. This habit becomes their practice that even in times of peace and as a sign of good faith, these “Lumads”, the natives or early settlers invite others who happen to pass by to partake meals with them. Maramag then was a picnic ground were one can rest and take his meal as a short respite either from travel, trekking, hunting and trapping or from battle."

Today, Maramag is popular on their water spring resorts like the "Waig Crystal Resort" and "MGM Resort". The place is really perfect for vacation: stress-free, fresh air, and peaceful place. Both resorts has its various recreational activity so that friends or family members can spend quality time together.

The Traveler

Life is a matter of journey! We go from one place to another. We meet new faces and exchanges goodbyes. There are some instances in our lives that we sometimes fall, the scar and the pain had been remain locked in our heart. When will it be healed? When can we let go? When can we forgive? Only TIME can tell WHEN. But, we should not focus ourselves into it. Life brings a lot of hope if we just believe. We cannot attain the complete happiness if we are locked into those pains. Remember, the pain we experience teaches us to be tough and brave enough to face the challenges in life. If we just let go of all those burdens, only then we could attain "happiness" that we are sometimes longing for. Enjoy every second that life brings us!!!

On the eve of independence...

Taking life , people, freedom with a pinch, sorry, mounds of salt

My Trip of a Lifetime

When I come back from every trip, I think that this has been it - the trip of my lifetime , but then I start planning for the next and wish someone could just sponsor it. Ive been dying to go to Himachal Pradesh and soak in the Himalayas and my trip of a lifetime is just going to happen.And this is made possible by Club Mahindra .



CLAY has just announced a contest which could make you win your trip of a lifetime. Just pen your thoughts on the best travelogue and email it to clay@clubmahindra.com and you could join us on a trip to Mashobra in September. For more details, visit CLAY or become a fan of CLUB Mahindra on FACEBOOK.

Last date : August 19, 2009..Dont miss it !

The Desert Place

Can you survive living in the desert? Huh! Well, let’s dig information about this place.

Just about one third land surface of the Earth is covered by the desert. Deserts are sometimes maybe hot (BWh) or cold (BWk) because of its inadequate rainfall annually, thus there are only limited people or animals that can survive here. During daytime desert’s temperature range from 45 °C/113 °F and drop down to 0 °C/32 °F during winter.
On the other side, deserts are also engage in tourism. As you can see in various movies, deserts are being used as plot of the story. In some desert areas, car racing sports are also present. The dryness of the place is also ideal for the preservation of fossils and human artifacts.

Musings by the sea shore

The mountains beckon some, the forests lure you, there is a charm in an old heritage monument and a certain peace in a remote town . I often get lost in new worlds, some that let me escape the mundane realities of life.

But when my mind is restless, I often seek the waves. The ebb and flow of the waters reassure me, the fury of the waves calm me down, the foam bathes my mind and the endless space of sand, water and sky give me an immense faith in life. I realize I am a microcosm in this entire universe and nothing can change the dynamics of life. The rhythm must go on..some waves are rough, some gentle , some gather around your feet,letting your toes feel the illusion of being embedded in the sand, but they let go eventually.


However the colours change as I watch the entire skyscape enact a drama in front of me . Colours of life , I call them - rose, crimson,gold, blue, grey fill the sky as it becomes an open palette.The fluffy white clouds flit in and out ,wrapping the sky in its fold, moving from one end to another. They change their shapes , gather around together to form a big white mass where little streaks of sunlight stream out. Sometimes there is a bit of a conflict in this paradise..where dark clouds throw a veil over the brighter ones, leaving the sky in a grey tone. Life I realize is a rainbow of colours, except we do not get to choose the palette.

I watch as the shore clings on to the waves, but it ebbs leaving the foam behind ..even that evaporates only to be washed away by another wave that drags a bit of the sand with it..I wonder if relationships are like that. The waves erase the memories, the shore tries to cling, the essence is absorbed by the shore and the sea as they carry a bit of each other when they embrace..only to eventually let go. The rocks at a far end are mute spectators to this spectacle. They remain silent as the waves unleash their emotions on them. Sometimes they lash at them, sometimes they embrace, but the rocks do not respond. Sometimes I wonder if this is what they refer to as being rock solid.

I see humans living by the sea, of the sea and I wonder if their understanding of life is much better than us urbanites who worry about mundane issues . As i grapple to understand my destiny and the forces that work within them, I look around and see the entire cycle play out in front of me.


I leave my footprints on the sands of time and wonder if my dreams will come true and if they would be etched for ever, when a wave flows up to me and let the foam curl around my ankles and erase those footprints away.Destiny I realize is not always written by us. We just get to think we play a role here. A little breeze blows past my face and the voice of the waves echo in my ears..Let Go...They say, you give back to the sea something that is important to you..I did just that.I left a part of me , my mind and my thoughts so that I could feel the spacelessness and nothingness inside me, and the voice still tugs in my ears..Let Go...

Travelling has its moments

When we travel, we soak in the local flavour . And of late,Ive been fascinated by local markets, small shops and their interesting titles..here are a few that I saw while I travelled to metros, cities, towns and hamlets.

Disco Chicken Centre
Om Shakti Solutions
Mustafa Bananas,
Uncle Bun,
Hello London-imported fancy store,
Dubai Agencies general store(outskirts of Chidambaram)
Horizon-Eaters Stop-Restaurant,
Kalas Occassion-Spoken English & coaching,
Travel &Tours -Acting Driver available,
Living Works -Upholstery Works

Have more titles ? Do add them to the list ..

Dream to Travel

AH, how I love to travel! The number one on my wish list is Cap d’Agde in France. It is known as the world’s only Naked City. It’s actually an elaborate beach resort with a very large shopping mall inside. Everybody from Senegalese to Mexicans troop there as long as they are nudists and as long as they can afford to strip without inhibition.

Another of my fantasy during holidays is to reside on a luxury ship which can go around the world. There are two such ships in existence that I know. In fact, there are permanent residents on the ship while others rent as guests.

Disneyland Hong Kong

THERE are many Disneylands in the world – in Anaheim, California, Tokyo and Hong Kong – but I’d rather like to talk more about Disneyland Hong Kong since its façade is one of the most familiar sights the world over. Tourists can easily take pictures of it as easy as taking pictures of the famed sand castle in Boracay which has the date stamped on the castle.

The features of Hong Kong Disneyland are similar to the ones in Anaheim but what makes it even more appealing are that almost all visitors here are Asian so you feel more at home if you come from Asia. It’s like East meets West.

Monsoon edition of the Hoysala trail

The Monsoon edition of the Hoysala trail is on again..soak in the rains as we journey down the eons of history..Feel the lure of the monsoons and add a dose of history along with us as we go on a journey back to the eons of the time. Visit monuments off the tourist circuit, hidden temples, a step well in the middle of nowhere and the ancient capital of the Hoysalas, Dwarasamudra. A dash of coffee to go with the tour as we go on a plantation tour and indulge in a bit of birding as well..


Places Covered
The temple with four shrines at Doddagaddavalli
Belur
Halebeedu
Ancient town of Dwarasamudra spread around Halebeedu
Hulikere Tank – A charming kalyani
Belavadi Temple
A walk in 300-acre coffee estate


You could contact me or Arun though our blogs and let us know if you would like to join us on the tour. Log on to travelwise for more details .