Fly to the Island of Malta and Enjoy a Lovely Holiday

Dreaming of a picture perfect holiday in a cool Mediterranean setting is the ultimate thought if you are planning to spend your vacation with your friends and family. Islands like Malta, situated bang in the blue waters of the Mediterranean is a dream destination for all backpackers and holiday goers who always look for something exciting and adventurous. This region in western Europe boasts of great weather condition all the year round and some of the most stunning virgin beaches that make it a popular tourist destination. So spending your dream holiday in Malta can actually be an experience worth paying for and this is how one can enjoy the best moments of your trip by landing at a cool island destination. A holiday in an island in the Mediterranean would be a true memorable experience when you got to stay at a perfect beach location with the view of the pristine blue waters.

So going for the services of a holiday rental company if you are planning for a weekend outing is actually a wise thinking to enjoy your trip to the fullest. In this view holiday rentals Malta can be a perfect option if you are thinking of a trip to the Mediterranean region. This particular region in Europe has breathtaking natural landscapes and sceneries to make you spellbound. So thinking about spending a holiday to this part of the world would be a great thinking to make your trip an unforgettable one. The virgin white sandy beaches, the cool blue waters, the great landscape and the exquisite villas and condos make Malta a ‘traveller’s paradise’. Due to its proximity to mainland Italy there is a huge influx of family tourists from that country. So all the year round Malta and its adjoining islands are frequented by all segments of travellers who look for something exciting and attractive. Holiday rental Malta can be enjoyed in its true sense if you partner with a reputed travel house who specialise in luxury holiday rental and you in turn can have a trip of your lifetime. Even you can go for a weekend outing with your friends and colleagues and have a gala time at the paradise island of Malta.

In order to make your holiday a perfect one you got to choose a stunning destination and enjoy the very best of holiday at a price that is well within your budget. Europe and especially the Mediterranean region is a perfect setting for a dream holiday with your friends and family and if your stay happens to be at a lovely resort or hotel, then it adds to the icing on the cake. In this respect holiday rentals Malta is the apt choice for a sensational holiday experience. The great weather, the perfect setting, the lovely sunshine and all other natural and man made features make Malta a nature lover's paradise and a true holiday destination. So if you are a go-getting traveller and thinking of going for a dream holiday, you must choose Malta over others for a truly memorable experience.

Birding in Ganeshgudi - malabar whistling thrush

The school boy was planning to have a nice warm bath when we spotted him in the little tub

London 2012: Good Luck Alin Moldoveanu!!!

I want to dedicate this post to Alin Moldoveanu; he is from my hometown and will compete in London at 10m Air Rifle. I wish him good luck and to bring home the medal. I have had the privilege to know him and he deserve a medal :D Pentru români vă recomand să citiţi blogul domnului Cătălin Tolontan unde este un interviu cu Alin.


Seven years ago I was a big fan of Paris and wished with all my heart that 2012 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris. It was a big surprised that the amazing London had won the games but everything seems so cool. Yes, I feel like these games are cool. I love the logo even though many considered it so ugly. I love the mascots and have them in my house. I love the stadiums. I love the vibe that old London put on the games and the result is such a modern view. The latest thing I like so much is the official song. Muse launched a few weeks ago "Survival" and I really love it and play it in heavy rotation :D The video is amazing and I can't wait the games which will be the best ever, I feel that. There will be new stories, new dramas, new emotions, new stars, surprises and old stars confirming their value. I also hope there will be peace in the World and I am thinking especially about Syria. I also dream that Romania will win lots of medals but that is not really important because it is more important to take part than to win. I wish you all good luck and may we have amazing games. London 2012.

51.538611,-0.016389 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

London 2012 For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
United Kingdom For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Skywatch Friday - Entry to ancient Warangal Fort

Warangal Fort is a settlement in old Warangal town in Andhra Pradesh. The capital of the Kakatiya dynasty more than 1000 years ago, Warangal is filled with beautiful sculptures, some of them in absolute ruins. However you can find the Kirti Toranas or the gateways, which are tall pillars that mark the cardinal directions around the fort area. You can read my story on Warangal here in Yahoo.

For more beautiful skies around the world, visit Skywatch 

The City on the Island of Love

Back in 1493, only one year after Christopher Columbus arrived in America, Pope Alexander VI, the notorious Rodrigo Borgia, gave a bull to divide the New World only between Spain and Portugal. But France and England and Dutch had their interest too in those lands. France established Nouvelle France in Quebec, present-day Canada, France Antarctique in present-day Rio de Janeiro (Portuguese found the city) and France équinoxiale, in present-day Brazil, around the line of Equator. Originally there was a town of the Tupinamba tribe and they built a fort which was named Saint Louis as a dedication to King Louis IX. This was in 1612 and in only three years, it was conquered for Portugal by Jerônimo de Albuquerque and renamed renamed São Luís. Also the Dutch invaded the city and stayed there from 1641 until 1645. Sugar cane, cacao, tobacco and cotton were the goods that created wealth and modernize the city. In our days, the city has a large and very good preserved heritage of colonial Portuguese architecture and because of that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1997. From 1989 there was a program to restore and renovate the city's historical center. The city is built on an island and also because of that it is called "Island of Love" but more because there lived many famous Brazilian poets and writers. Those towns from northern part of Brazil and around Amazon are a dream place to visit. I imagine that the World is very different there. The food, the fruits, the people make me think of a dream place even though there is a lot of poverty - everything else compensate the poverty in my opinion but for sure many locals don’t think that and I understand.


PS: I saw on the official site that this year they celebrate 400 years: 1612-2012 :D

-2.528092,-44.304774 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Brazil For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Travel Tuesday - Paintings in Orchha

Orchha - A painting in Laxmi Narayan temple , a monument that hardly looks like a temple. The paintings here take your breath away. See these murals and you can see the Europeans and the local rulers having a discussion over beer or wine or whatever alcoholic beverage they are having.

The 500th post - Travel Writing is simple hard work

It is the 500th post on Backpacker and  I would like to start by thanking you all for reading, appreciating, criticizing and commenting on the blog. Backpacker started more than seven years ago as a platform where I could keep my passion for travel writing alive. I have been a freelancer since I was 18 years old and I have been working with the media since then. As the demands of the profession grew, writing took a backseat. And since it was easier to write travelogues than feature stories, I decided to start a travel blog. Ironically, I eventually quit my media job , that too a high paying one to travel and write . But then I realized travel writing does not pay . Not even a 10 % of a good corporate salary. But it meant a whole new world out there - one of opportunities and discoveries.

In the last several years, I have been asked several questions on how to be a travel writer, what are the opportunities out there, how does one begin and whether it will pay . Let me start answering some of these questions, starting with the last 

1. Does travel writing pay ?

The answer is no. If you are looking at a fat salary at the end of the month or for the travels to be sponsored, believe me travel writing is not for you. But if you have the passion to travel and you have a flair for writing, then you must give it a shot. Most magazines and newspapers have a standard rate for a freelancer and as you keep writing, you can slowly start paying off your bills. Even today, almost 90 % of my trips are self funded, but for a few . The invites are very few and there are many contenders out there, so if you do not get freebies , do not bother. Invest in your trips wisely and it may eventually pay off.

2. How do I become a travel writer ?

Now there is no magic formula out here. Editors do not look for me, I look for them. I search for emails on the net, find contacts from magazines and keep sending briefs. Many a time there is no response. The silence may be discouraging, but there are so many magazines out there.

I would suggest that everyone starts with a travel blog first. Then write for other blogs and magazines, who may not have the resources to pay , but will promote you. Build your confidence and your portfolio. Share your stories openly. Do not get cowed down by lack of responses from editors .

Secondly, read the magazine and see the kind of briefs that they want. Some are very keen on an angle or a style. If it does not work for you, do not send briefs to such magazines. For example, I am not a luxury traveller - so if I have to write for a luxury magazine, I will not be able to do a great job of it.

Finally, do not expect friends and well wishers to share every contact off their list with you. Some do, others are uncomfortable doing it as they would have probably struggled for years getting those contacts. I personally do not have a problem sharing, but some of the editors that I work with do . So, many a time, I ask them first before sharing their contacts with you. The best way is to read the magazines or surf the net and find the submissions guidelines or the contact details. Sometimes pick up the phone and call the editorial team and ask them for their email.

3.Opportunities out there for a travel writer
A good travel writer needs to have a personalised style, a niche area of expertise, a passion for travel and writing and a sense of observation. If you can take great photographs then it is an added advantage. Online is a great place to look for opportunities. Blogs, websites, newsletters - everyone has a travel section. Guide books - both online and offline are available. Start somewhere and slowly build your repertoire.

4. What kind of travel stories should I write ?
Well, this largely depends on the publication and your personal interests, but here are some tips to remember. Personalised narratives are always interesting, but people do not want to hear every bit of your trip. Show more and tell less. Let your experiences take your reader along with you on the journey, to the destination .

 I personally like to add local flavour in my stories- conversations with people, sights and sounds, a peek into the culture, food if that interests you - these are always a welcome break than just sightseeing spots. Trivia and history are nice, but I prefer stories - they give a nice feel to the piece.. The mood and tone of the story is important too   -if you can write in a humourous style, then no editor can refuse your story. Position yourself in the story - are you a narrator, a guide, a road tripper, an adventurer ? What would you like to share with your reader ?  Add a sense of discovery in your journeys or let the reader know that you are a lazy traveller, lounging in the chair watching the sun set .

Do not bombard the reader with too many adjectives..there are better ways to describe a place . You can also be a guide and show your expertise and tell the reader where he must go or what he or she must not do. Lists are a great way of showing off your understanding of the destination.And always ask yourself the most important question - Does the reader need to know every detail of my trip ? Maybe some of them are plain irrelevant. The destination can never be shadowed by you .

5.So where do I now begin ?
The first step is to travel. Have a journal and keep notes..it may be something you saw or heard. If you are not into photography, have a digital camera to quickly take pictures and write down short notes on the same. Get your facts right - names,places, distances, routes, whatever you want to share. Write down whatever you feel, what you liked and even what you do not like. And make your observations as well.

Once you are back home, create a small brief on your trip. Make a pitch to a few publications and wait for their responses. Then do some research and ensure your facts are right. If you do not hear from a publication, fret not. Become your own editor and start posting your experiences. Share photographs and promote your posts .Once you are done, restart the process all over again. Your journey as a travel writer begins now..

So, there you are..ready to look at the world with new eyes and to share your experiences. All the best and if you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask me .

OK..here are some giveaways for this post as well. I will be giving away five postcards and will be happy to post them to you if you can send me your addresses in the comments section. Here is a catch though..You need to guess where I am headed next. And the five who get it right get a postcard from me from that destination . A clue - I am flying overseas.

Its been four months or more since I travelled anywhere, especially after I was hospitalised . I am not yet out of the woods though. It is a painful condition that needs treatment for a while and this probably maybe my last trip of the year, as I will be focussing on getting completely well by the end of the year .But then, that's a long way to go and I have a holiday in between..so get guessing and I will see you around..

Unravel The Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands

Hundred Islands of Pangasinan’s well known as one attraction site. It usually situated near the city area of Alaminos City province of Pangasinan. This One Hundred Islands consider by many as one seven natural wonders in the world. Due to special characteristics, uniqueness, scientific importance, and high scenic value; national committee of geographical sciences previously declared as hundred islands of Pangasinan as National Geological Monument last Sept. 2001

The Hundred Islands comprises of three well develop islands namely the Children Island, Quezon Island, and Governor’s Island intended for tourism and scientific study. Tourism increasingly become an important part of local economy and great efforts are entirely created for balancing the visitors desire with maintenance of pristine and bountiful habitat to One hundred Islands National Park’s marine life, fauna, and flora. These islands were entirely shaped from the uplifted coral deposits thru an erosional action intended for groundwater and rainwater.

These clustered islands of Gulf Lingayen situated at northeastern portion of Alaminos that comprises around 123 hills with various sizes. Upon getting here, take into consideration the bus from going to Manial till Alaminos of Pangasinan within the span of five hours. From the Alaminos, take into consideration riding a tricycle ride upon going to Barangay Lucap. Upon arriving to the savor’s exceptional city with dynamic spirit, the friendly atmosphere and most especially; the adventure and beauty entirely lies beneath inside the wonders of so called Hundred Islands.

Postojna Cave - A Journey with a Fast Little Electric Train

Postojna Cave is, maybe, the top tourist site of Slovenia – a small European country, part of EU. It was part of Yugoslavia and now, after 20 years of independence, it is still associated with Slovakia – try to avoid this confusion. The cave was first visited by Francis I, the first Emperor of Austria, in 1918. It was opened to the public in 1819. From its 20,570 m long Karst cave system only 5 km are open to public, first 2 km and the last 2 of them is a journey with a fast little electric train – don’t try to take pictures because the train is fast to prevent this because there were a lot of injured visitors in the past. The ticket is a little expensive (around 23 Euros and you can buy it online) but for sure worth to the last cent. A second reason not to take photos is that there are many protected species that are affected by light and after all, you don’t have a professional camera with flash light and tripod and the pictures will not be as good as a beautiful postcard. The caves are also home to the endemic olm, the largest troglodytic amphibian in the world. The tour through the caves includes an aquarium with some olms (Proteus Anguinus) in it, a very small and fragile creature, almost transparent. The last part of the tour takes you in a big hall, used for concerts, it can accommodate up to 80.000. peoples. I have visited the caves in 2010 and bought a lot of cards, some that you can see are on my dental office wall. My mom is so afraid of caves because 30 years ago she almost died – a wrong step. It was very hard to convince her to take the tour and she did it. She was impressed because the pathway is not slippery and everything is very safe and well thought.

45.782429,14.203709 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Slovenia For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

The Modern Opera House of Copenhagen

The Copenhagen Opera House (in Danish usually called Operaen) is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs well over 500 million U.S. dollars. It is located on the island of Holmen in central Copenhagen. It was designed by the architect Henning Larsen and engineers Ramboll and Buro Happold. Construction began in 2001 and was completed opened in 2005 in the presence of Queen Margrethe II. The Opera is located in Copenhagen just opposite the main castle Amalienborg at the shore of the harbor. The opera house is built in alignment with Amalienborg and The Marble Church, so that if one stands in the main entrance of the Opera, one can see the Marble Church over the water along the road through Amalienborg.

55.681944,12.600556 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Denmark For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Dersu Uzala, the Best Guide for Sikhote-Alin

A few weeks ago I have wathced one of the most beautiful films ever. I have the DVD for a long time but put it aside for so long. The film was awarded with an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1975 and it is based on a memoir book. I am talking about Dersu Uzala, directed by the genius Akira Kurosawa for U.S.S.R. and Japan. The film is about the explorer Vladimir Arsenyev and his expedition in Siberia, in Sikhote-Alin, in the early part of the 20th century. It is amazing just because it is shot outdoors in Siberia and I had a chance to admire the beauty of that place. I love the character called Dersu Uzala, a guide for the Russian exploratory group, a man using his instincts and keen observation. The end of the movie is very impressive and sad but you have to watch it because I am sure you will love it. It is a movie made with heart, love, as Akira Kurosawa knows to do.

What is the relation with the postcard? Sikhote-Alin is presented in the card and I want to go there sometimes. I'm not an outdoor person but, maybe for a day, I would love to hear the silence of the harsh Siberia. Sikhote-Alin is a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site from 2001. It is a region consisting of mountain range extending about 900 km to the northeast of the Russian Pacific seaport of Vladivostok. From Wikipedia: "Sikhote-Alin comprises one of the most extraordinary temperate zones in the world. Species typical of northern taiga (such as reindeer and the Ussuri Brown Bear) coexist with tropical species, the Amur leopard, Siberian tiger, and the Asiatic Black Bear. The region holds very few wolves, due to competition with tigers. The oldest tree in the region is a millennium-old Japanese yew."

45.584998,135.744629 Click for Google Maps or use numbers on your GPS to navigate.

Wikipedia For more information, links, pictures and many more Wikipedia is the perfect site to be informed.

Official Site For visiting information (like fees and open days and times) use the official site.
Russia For travel information, the official site of the National Tourist Board, is the perfect location.

Top 5 Pasalubong from Cebu

Visiting Cebu anytime soon and tired of taking home the usual food delicacies? There are many other great souvenir finds you can find in this majestic island. In this article, we will be listing the top five pasalubong from Cebu for your family and friends.

1. Guitars

If you’re looking for acoustic instruments made in the Philippines, Cebu is the bestplace to visit. Having a rich history of creativity, style and precision in guitar-making, Cebu prides itself for having lots of showrooms, factories and stores where you can buy different guitar types that are world class. Their guitars are made of narra wood, rosewood and kamagong. The quality is so good that many of them are hit products being exported abroad (to countries like Japan and the US). Popular makers are located along the stretch of Barangay Abuno in Mactan: Alegre Guitars, Inday Celia’s Guitars and the New Susing Guitars. Prices of their guitars range from 1,200 to 50,000 pesos, while ukuleles (small guitars) are at 40 pesos each. If you truly are an enthusiast of guitars, go for the Guitar Master is located near the old bridge in Mactan Island, and you will not regret what you have just exchanged your money with!

2. Fashion Accessories

Cebu offers handmade earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets and anklets made up of beads, pearls and shells. A must-have for ladies, fashion accessories in Cebu can be bought from the souvenir shops in Mactan Shrine and the local malls. They are super cheap at 10 to 35 pesos each. If you are buying wholesale, be friendly to the sellers and don’t mind haggling for even lower prices.

3. “I Love Cebu” Items Whenever you visit a diverse and intriguing place like Cebu, you will want to have products tagged with the city’s name on it—to take on some air of vanity that you have actually been there. Mugs, hats, keychain, ref magnets and T-shirts are found in souvenir shops all around Cebu. And local and foreign tourists are crazy over them! Priced at 100 to 500 pesos, T-shirts are the best buys as they can be worn and used comfortably everywhere. Available in different sizes, it comes with different themes and designs such as the illustration of the sunny island, historic figures, animals and the “I ♥Cebu” text. Cheaper ones are sold at the Carbon Market where you will be able to bargain to your heart's content!

4. Rattan Furniture

Cebu manufactures and designs the best rattan chairs, tables, beds and other furniture perfect for both indoor and outdoor spots. A splash of these quality furniture will look vibrant as accents and will surely liven up your dull living room or porch back at home. Rattan invites an Asian theme, and many foreigners buy a piece or two to give their homes that exotic and stylish personality. If you think that furniture is large and cannot be accommodated in your baggage, you can opt for pencil holders, baskets and handy bags instead.

5. Image of Sto. Nino

Cebu is known for the Sinulog festival which is celebrated to commemorate Sto. Nino (the Child Jesus) every January. So around that time of the year, many tourists go to the famous Sto. Nino Church or the Basilica del Minore del Sto Nino in downtown Cebu. To have a blessed keepsake, take a picture beside the image of Sto. Nino to show to your family and friends and this will fulfill your Cebu trip even more.

There are lots of other affordable Cebu products you can buy as homecoming gifts not only for your loved ones but also for yourself as a remembrance of your visit to this queen city of the south. So spare some bucks and go shopping for these amazing mementos!

Author bio:

Ann Joy Perez is an alumna from Arellano University Philippines, a former Marketing Assistant and a 25 year old, single. She is into almost all types of Music especially love songs. She also love playing basketball, video games,watching entertainment and films.watching news tv and reading news paper is one of her favorite hobby and also she loves to eat. Follow her interest on her Tumblr.

Travel Tuesday - Locals in Cambodia

No matter how far we go from our country and culture, some sights are very familiar. I saw these locals in Cambodia coming for a weekend outing to Kulen Mountain, a spiritual place , also a picnic spot for them.It could be a scene taken out of anywhere in India.

India through my eyes - Drying appalams or papads on the doorstep

Kalladaikurichi appalam or papad is quite famous and popular in my village . Here is a typical sight of a lady drying them before you can fry or roast them .

Birding in US - The brown pelican

We had just come back from the whale watching cruise in Monterey when we saw the pelican perched close by. He was so still that we were wondering if it was " real " after all. I just wished I had spent more time birding in the USA

To me the birds have always been the symbol of Independence Day..so happy 4th July to folks out there 

India through my eyes - Guardian Gods

While driving in and around my village Kallidaikurichi in down South Tirunelveli, I chanced upon a temple in Ambasamudram where these Guardian Gods were housed. I learnt from family and some friends on Facebook that the deity was referred to as Vandimaricha Amman. It is near the Agasthiyar Temple

Ayyanars are also referred to as Guardian Gods and here is a post on them.

Offbeat India - Vattakottai

A Dutch naval officer leads an army against an Indian king, only to be defeated by him. The story however does not end there. The king, impressed by the foreigner hires him and makes him a commander in his own army . The Dutch officer then trains the Indian army, builds forts and even helps them defeat their local and international rivals in war.

You would probably read about these kinds of stories only in India, even if it is set more than 300 years ago. This story, which may seem more common in multinational companies today was set in the 18^thcentury when kings and queens ruled over India and the Europeans were knocking at their doors to establish trade and to eventually take over power.  I am speaking of the stories relating to the Travancore – Dutch wars that were set in the 18^th century. The king is Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma and the Dutch naval officer is Eustachious De Lannoy who was with the Dutch East India Company before switching loyalties.

It is a beautiful day with perfect cotton candy clouds floating over the clear blue sky. The seas surrounding us is calm as it gently caresses the shore. A lone tree stands , its dead branches almost touching the sky. In the distant horizon, we can see windmills dancing to the tune of the breeze. I am at Vattakottai, a circular sea fort built on the coast near Kanyakumari, by De Lannoy for Marthanda Varma.  Standing from the ramparts, I look out into the picturesque view of the Western Ghats encircling the oceans – the Bay of Bengal on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other.

Vattakottai was one of our destinations  as  part of the heritage Naanjil Naadu tour where we explored the monuments left behind by various dynasties in and around Kanyakumari and Nagercoil.  The Venad kings started their reign over Travancore from this region before moving  base . Even today the ancient Padmanabha palace ringed in by the Western Ghats stands as the testimony to the origins of the dynasty. It is believed that the ruler Marthanda Varma dedicated his kingdom to his family deity Padmanabha and Padmanabhapuram lost its significance when the capital was eventually shifted from here to Trivandrum in the 18^thcentury .

As we enter the granite fort, the outer walls greet us with the symbol of two elephants with a conch shell, but the fort itself is neither imposing nor formidable. It just seems like another nondescript hidden destination that lets the eye gaze at some of the most beautiful vistas around.  It was believed that one can see the Padmanabhapuram palace from here, but all I can see is a fabric of blue – the sky and the sea seems to merge.  The coconut trees grace the shore, as some parts of the wall jut out into the sea . And as many folk lores say, a tunnel was supposed to have been built here too , but one wonders where ,  as the fort seemed isolated , surrounded by waters.  

A huge open courtyard, probably a parade ground leads us to a flight of steps with a ramp. We look down from the walls , built at a height of almost 25 feet and the sea greets us.  The British apparently destroyed the fort in a much later battle , but today, Vattakottai stands in memory of the Dutch commander who had served and trained the Indian army under the Travancore kings.

Starting July, I am starting a new series called Offbeat India. It will include stories, photo-posts, my columns - Inside Story published in The Hindu among other posts. This was published in my column in The Hindu Metro Plus recently. 

Sunday Snapshot - Munnar and its mist

 

The monsoons, the mist and Munnar - what a combination ..