Choosing the Best Hotel for the Holidays

CHOOSING the best hotel for the holidays needs lots of factors before one can decide. First, choose whether you’re vacationing on your own, you’re accompanying your girlfriend or you’re with your family. If you’re vacationing on your own, then you need only a modest bed for your own. And then you may want to weigh on whether you’ll be staying in a two-star backpacker motel or splurge yourself in a four-star luxurious one. That entirely depends on your budget at hand and your interests.

And then, choosing a hotel also depends on your location. You may find that a five-star hotel in Doha costs more than a five-star hotel in some remote corner in the Philippines. And then consider also the services of a hotel in Thailand over a hotel in Tenerife. There are some hotels which imbue some exotic décor in their rooms which are native to the place.

And then consider also the season when you vacation. Obviously, it costs a lot more during off-season rather than on-season. And peak season can vary depending on where you are. It is usually off-season during winter in Palma de Mallorca. And it is off-season to stay in Christmas in Australia.

Adventure Travel on Valentines Day

THIS Valentine, choose your wildest adventure destination yet with your romantic other.Valentine 2010 will be better than past Love Days in past years because it also coincides with Chinese New Year. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger and it calls for romantic lovers all over the world to be resilient and more aggressive.

How else can you impress your loved ones except to treat them to a vacation in the other part of the world this Valentine. For instance, if you come from a landlocked spot in Spain such as Salamanca, you may want to explore the serene waters of Phuket off mainland Thailand. Or if you come from the tropical archipelago that is the Philippines, you may want to visit the nudist haven that is Cap dÁgde in France. Or if you are a devout Catholic, you may want to visit Lourdes.

The choices are indeed endless for vacationers. You may want to have a cruise around the Mediterranean for three months and get to interact with other residents in the huge ship. There is one maintained by the Royal Carribean which is oh so big – the Oasis of the Seas. You may want to check out their brochure.

Philippine Travel Destinations

THEY say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. There are many beautiful spots in the Philippines but each domestic and foreign tourist has his and her own choice for the top Philippine travel destinations.

The number one on my list is Camiguin. Camiguin is an island off the northern part of Cagayan de Oro City. It is accessible by fast ferry for only one hour while others take a detour some 100 miles away to admire the beaches in mainland eastern Misamis Oriental before proceeding the volcanic paradise that is Camiguin. Why do I say that it is a volcanic paradise? Because the island itself is surrounded by dormant volcanoes but beyond these volcanoes, there are various hot springs, sandbars and beaches. Other regular attractions include the Lenten walkway and the sunken cemetery.

Second on my list is surprisingly, the urban metropolis of Metro Manila particularly the beltway housing Trinoma and the renovated SM City North EDSA. SM City North EDSA houses one of only two IMAX moviehouses in the Philippines and it is here which I like to spend the time the most because I am really fascinated with everything 3D. I have my third, fourth and fifth choices but since I am biased, I’d rather keep them on my own.

Inspirational Travel Quotes

What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road. ~William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. ~Seneca

Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~Mason Cooley

I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. ~Caskie Stinnett

The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway. ~Henry Boye

More Travel quotes @ quotegarden

Dakar Rally 2010

This year's 31st running of the Dakar Rally is being held in South America for the second year, instead of the traditional African route. The reason is - growing issecurity and possible terrorist attack concerns. This year's race began and will end in Buenos Aires, covering a looping 9,000 kilometers between Argentina and Chile over 14 stages. 362 Teams began the race with 176 motorcycles and quad bikes, 134 cars, and 52 trucks. The race is just over halfway completed now, the winners expected to cross the finish line on January 16th.
Below - several photographs from the first half of the rally.

Spain's Gerard Farres Guell kicks up sand with his Aprilia during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. Spain's Marc Coma won the stage, France's David Casteu took the second place and France's Cyril Despres the third. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) 

The Volkswagen Touareg of South African driver Giniel De Villers and co-driver Dirk Von Zitzewitz of Germany attends the symbolic start of the Dakar 2010 in Buenos Aires on January 1, 2010. (ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP/Getty Images)

Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc in his Nissan passes race fans on a hillside during the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo guides his Aprilia through water during Stage 1 of the Dakar 2010 between Colon and Cordoba, Argentina, on January 2, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

People watch Nissan's Jean-Pierre Strugo and co-driver Yves Ferri, of France, splash their car through a river crossing during stage one of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

France's Jean Claude Mazet falls from his KTM during the 2nd stage of the Dakar 2010 between Cordoba and La Rioja, Argentina, on January 3, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Manuel Jamett of Chile climbs a rocky road on his Yamaha motorcycle during the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally 2010 from Antofagasta to Iquique January 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen)

 BMW's driver France's Stephane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret cross a valley during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Russia's Leonid Novitskiy crosses dunes in his BMW during the 7th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 8, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Volkswagen's Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, of Spain, compete during stage six of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Helder Rodriguez of Portugal rides his Yamaha motorcycle during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally from Antofasgasta to Copiapo, January 10, 2010. (REUTERS/Stringer/Pool)

  An aerial view shows the site where a Robinson 44 helicopter crashed in Fiambala, Catamarca province, January 4, 2010. The pilot, co-pilot and two reporters who were following the Dakar Rally sustained injuries when their helicopter crashed, local media reported. (REUTERS/Gendarmeria/Handout)

China's Wenmin Su rides his Jincheng past cheering onlookers during the 4th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Fiambala, Argentina, and Copiapo, Chile on January 5, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

The Dakar encampment is seen during stage five of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 in Antofagasta, Chile, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Frederic Le Floc'h)

Foggy clouds cover part of the area where the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, is taking place on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Yamaha's rider Argentina's Alejandro Patronelli climbs a dune on his quad bike during the seventh stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally 2010 between Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile, Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

South African Giniel De Villiers drives his Volkswagen during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (NATACHA PISARENKO/AFP/Getty Images)

Italy's Silvia Giannetti falls from her KTM during the 5th stage of the Dakar 2010 between Copiapo and Antofagasta, Chile, on January 6, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

 

France's Cyril Despres crosses a wide plain his KTM during the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010, between Antofagasta and Copiapo, Chile, on January 10, 2010. (GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)

SOURCE:
The Dakar Rally Official Website
Dakar 2010 at Wikipedia

http://www.boston.com/

The Ladakh diary

Day 1 : Ladakh to me is and will always remain a dream destination. As I look down from the window pane of my flight , I see a veil of clouds covering the Himalayas as the flight drops height. We were lucky to get a free upgrade to business class and luckier that we were the only ones in that class. For a moment I did not regret that I did not take the road from Manali to Leh. The views from the flight were breathtaking. Ive seen landscapes and clouds before, but this is unparalleled.

The flight drops further height tearing through the soft clusters of clouds and the mountains part ways . The sun shines through the mountains as the ridges get closer as they touch the sky. I gasp as the colours become visible. The rugged browns, the sheets of white, the blue sky and an emerald green lake. I am told to stop taking photographs as the plane is about to land. In a way I am relieved. I lose myself in the barren landscape as the flight touches down in Leh.

Advantages of Online Travel Agencies

EACH major city in the world boasts of its own travel agencies. But imagine a travel agency which can provide quality services to travelers anywhere in the world. There are two famous online travel agencies – Expedia and Travelocity. Each of them boasts of its own quality line of services it can offer.

Whether you’re traveling to any of the Balearic islands in the Mediterranean or to some exotic destination such as Phuket in Thailand, there are definitely lots of advantages if you book with any of these online travel agencies. First of all, you can get discounts if you book with them way ahead say three months in advance. And they’d be glad to help you on which sights to go once you’re in your destination.

These online travel agencies also have linguists in their roster to easily guide you in your tours especially if you’re organizing say for instance backpacking tours of 20 people or so in a Europe-wide trip from Switzerland to Italy. And then they will book you too to the vehicles of your choice – whether you want a limo ride, an SUV or an off-road four-wheeler.

So what are you waiting for? Book now!

A morning in Ladakh

We were doing the monastery circuit on the outskirts of Leh and the views of the mountains are unparalleled.There is beauty in the barrenness , a sense of timelessness about them.


For more beautiful skies around the world, click here

PS : Pls click on the images to view them in a bigger size.

MisOr holds Tabo sa Umahan to mark 80th Anniversary

The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental will hold anew Tabo sa Umahan 2010, which carries this year’s theme, “Seguridad sa Pagkaon, Hiyas sa Ekonomiyang Malig-on”, on January 11-15, 2010 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, as it marks the 80th Founding Anniversary of the Misamis Oriental as a separate province.

As we mark the occasion with festivities, a Thanksgiving Mass will begin at 7:00 a.m. on January 11 at the kiosk of the Provincial Capitol Grounds, to be followed thereafter by an Opening Program, to be highlighted by the Unveiling of the Heritage Monument and the Simultaneous Provincial and Municipal Banner Raising.

The weeklong event will feature the display of various Agricultural Products, OTOP (One Town One Product) Exhibits, Ornamental Plants, Agri-Pasiklaban Contests, PINAKA Contest, Cooking Contest, Poster Making Contest as well as nightly shows bearing different subtitles, that depict the diversity of people, race and culture in Misamis Oriental, to be hosted primarily by the 3 Rural-Based Organizations (RBOs),i.e., RIC for Higa-onon Night, the 4H Club for the Muslim Night and the P4MP for the Christian/Hispanic Influence Night. The 4th Night, entitled as Misamis Oriental Today, depicts the widely accepted culture of Misamisnons at present, with the participation of the Provincial Capitol Employees.

Various presentations/competitions will also be featured on separate nights such as Search for Mrs RIC, Dance Contest (Nobody, Nobody But You), Modern Dance Contest (Hugyaw Sayaw), OPM Contest, Kuracha Dance Contest (Sr. Citizens Level) and Doble-Kara Duet Competition.

The Culminating Program and Awarding Ceremony will be on January 15, 2010 at 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., with an encore of OPM and Modern Dance Winners. (ZOROBABEL WABE-RABE)

A good start

Its a great feeling to start a new year and here is wishing all my readers a happy new year. Ive just been caught up in some niggling health issues and in a flurry of activities, but I believe 2010 will be a dramatic year of sorts. I have no clue where it will take me, but am sure I will get somewhere. Join me as we go on this unplanned trip together..hope you would enjoy it as well