Akademi Fantasia Travel » Vacation

Asia’s Best Diving Heaven in Cambodia

M.H.M — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:51:33 +0000

Diving heaven eco-friendly and undeniably beautiful, Cambodia offers some of the best diving in Asia. Located on the pristine coastline of Sihanoukville & Ream is a unique holiday destination offering the ultimate diving experience in Southeast Asia. Pioneering green resort development in the region is the luxurious Song Saa Island Resort, an environmentally sensitive resort committed to the protection of marine habitats and local wildlife. Firmly devoted to conservation, a team of full-time marine biologists are on-board and dedicated to a conservation program. This program has been designed to help Cambodia learn from the experience of Thailand and develop in a manner that will reflect the beauty of the environment whilst preserving the unique nature and marine life Cambodia has to offer.

The diving in the region is second to none. With an exotic array of marine life and crystal clear waters, Sihanoukville & Ream offer a diving experience like no other. With an array of anemones and a captivating collection of corals, the area’s diverse offering make it a favourite for diving enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Few places in the world capture the imagination of divers like Sihanoukville & Ream; marine biodiversity is high and the “back-to-nature” experience of the region is not found in most diving hot-spots.

For those who are not experienced, there are several dive centres that offer PADI courses and a number of companies that will take you out to the uninhabited islands off the coast. An ideal destination for all divers, Sihanoukville & Ream is a must visit destination to experience the wonders of the underwater world.

Four Incredible Sights You Can Reach by Car in Finland

M.H.M — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:14:22 +0000

This guest post was contributed by Lela Lake for Finland holiday experts, Baltic Travel. Finland is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden on the west, Norway on the north and Russia on the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland. Around 5.4 million people reside in Finland, with the majority concentrated in the southern region. If you travel to Finland, these are four incredible sights you can reach by car.

1) Santa Claus Village

(Image Credit: Webax)

About 8 kilometres outside the city of Rovaniemi is the popular Santa Claus Village, which honours the spirit of Christmas all over the world. Follow the white line that shows the path of the Arctic Circle through the park.

Stop by Santa Claus’s Office for a chat with the jolly old elf, or if he is busy elsewhere, check out the Santa Claus Post Office, where you can send out letters with the coveted Santa Claus postmark. There are shops and restaurants where you can soak up the atmosphere and learn the true story of Father Christmas.

2) Lampivaara Amethyst Mine

(Image Credit: Pajaratorio)

About 130 kilometers from Rovaniemi is one of the few working gem mines that welcomes visitors. This fascinating tour explains how various shades of violet are created to form amethyst and recounts some of the fascinating myths and legends that surround this treasured gemstone. You even get to dig up a lucky amethyst to take home with you.

3) Hannu Hautala Nature Photography Centre

(Image Credit: RukaKuusamo)

In the town of Kuusamo is the 150 square metre exhibition hall that houses the incredible collection of photographer Hannu Hautala, who has spent his life capturing the beauty of the wildlife in his native Lapland. Visiting photographs also share their work with the public in the exhibits with names like “Starry Nights” and “Creatures and Spirits.”

4) Ranua Wildlife Park Zoo

(Image Credit: Esapekka)

Just an hour’s drive from the Rovaniemi’a Arktikum Museum is the Ranua Wildlife Park, where you visit the animals you have learned about in the Arktikum museum. Once you arrive, you can take a sleigh ride or a dog sled to view and take pictures of the 60 species of wild animals that roam the park. Tours are available in either winter or summer.

Best Villas and Apartments in the World

M.H.M — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:46:18 +0000

A holiday is the best time of the year when one can relax and have a great time with friends and family. The most important part of any vacation is the accommodation. The accommodation is that part of the holiday which can make it relaxing and rejuvenating. Many times a hotel is not the preferred choice for many to stay. Staying in apartments can be more relaxing and comfortable. The best place to look for apartments when on a holiday is http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk. Be it villas in Greece or villas in Majorca, one can get them here easily. It is very easy to look for apartments and villas on the site and there are thousands of options that one has to choose from. Apart from villas and apartments, one also can look for bed and breakfast, farmhouse rentals and cottages. There is no kind of fees, hassle and confusion as one can book the property of their choice directly from the owner of the property.

The rental dates here are flexible and one needs to interact directly with the homeowners and this ensures that one does not have to pay any commission of any kind to anyone. For example, villas in Majorca provide the best service with very minimal fees. There are many accommodations that are available with a swimming pool and these are the best to relax. One can enjoy more privacy with their family when they stay in these villas and apartments instead of a hotel. One can know more about the destination and be more comfortable in staying in these rented accommodations. The kind of accommodation one needs will always depend on their budget and their tastes and preferences and at http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk, one can find all kinds of options which will ensure that they have the perfect family outing.

One can choose from the many options as searching on the site for any destination in the world is very easy. These accommodations not only will suit the needs of family members but these also can take care of the special interests and ensure that all facilities one wants are available. With the help of Owners Direct one can look for an accommodation of their choice from all over the world and searching and booking is so easy that one is bound to love the whole experience. One can glance through the featured options to see the best options available which are comfortable and offer good value for money.

Maximize Your Selection of Egypt Holidays

M.H.M — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:08:37 +0000

The best way to spend your holidays is to head towards a new country. There are varied tourist destinations to explore. Heading towards destinations, which boast natural scenic beauty and beaches are a typical idea. One should try visiting a different place so that one can have a new experience. If individuals want to explore a wholly new country with fascinating architecture and lovely weather, then there could be no other better option than Egypt holidays. Egypt places are perfect for those individuals who bear deep passion for history. Attracted by its exciting history and enchanting beauty, there are thousands of tourists visiting Egypt each year.

Egypt has always been known as the land of Pharaohs, mega temples and majestic Pyramids. The most interesting thing to do in Egypt is to explore its archeological wonders. There are great historical monuments like Luxor Egypt, Giza Pyramid, Valley of the kings, Karnak temple, Great sphinx of Ghiza and much more. Egypt is an ideal place for all age groups. A ride along the river Nile has no words to explain. Individuals can visit the place with their spouse, friends or families. There is a plethora of holiday resorts and hotels including the fascinating beach resorts. There are a lot of travel agencies, which are offering the best deals and complete hotel packages for Egypt holidays. One just needs to book with them and allow these travel agencies offer the best. A travel agency that I can think of at the moment is travelsoon.com

Sharm el-Sheikh holidays are also gaining extreme popularity these days. The place is located in the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula on the fascinating Red Sea Coast. The place offers a perfect mix of relaxation and activity. Sharm el-Sheikh is known for its spectacular scenery, myriad of shops, hotels and restaurants. Some of the world’s finest diving centers are found here. Divers from all across the world visit the place to explore its marine life on the coasts of red sea. One can also enjoy some mind blowing water sports like pedalo hire, windsurfing, sailing, and glass bottomed boat rides. There are endless options for shopping savvy persons as the traditional markets have the best collection of jewelry, perfumes and clothes.

Holidays have also been anticipated with reservations and preparations. Most of the people spend a lot of time to ensure that everything is booked and reserved till the date of awaited treat. So don’t waste time and book your holidays now!

Easy Hotel Booking for Your Thailand Vacation

M.H.M — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:30:24 +0000

Come vacations and everyone wants to take a nice break away from the monotonous daily schedules. There are many beautiful destinations all over the world, but one place that everyone must visit is Thailand. There are lots of things which one can do in Thailand and there is no dearth of options to stay. Thailand is truly a delight for the tourists and thus, everyone must visit it. One can find great deals for hotels on at www.atthailandhotel.com. One can easily look for hotels on the site in the most convenient and easiest way.

The website offers many options for a tourist and the deals are so awesome that one can save up to 75% on their hotels. The site offers massive discounts on hotel deals in Thailand, especially its best tourist spot, Phuket. One can find a Phuket Hotel for a great discount and this will ensure that one saves a large amount on these so that they can spend more on other activities and have a marvelous holiday.

Anybody can find easily hotels in Phuket, Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai from www.atthailandhotel.com. The site has many hotels which they recommend but besides these also there are many options from which one can choose. One can choose a hotel based on their budget and the kind of amenities they are looking for. There are many popular hotels which are listed on the site and this makes for great information for a new tourist. There are many travelers who travel for the first time to Thailand, and thus they will not know which hotel is good. The recommended and popular hotel list on the site makes it very convenient for them to see the best hotels and choose from them.

The Thailand hotel booking website offers discounts on hotel categories and the savings that one has from this site can be used easily on other aspects on the holiday. The website recommends holiday destinations and hotels there like, Koh Samui hotels, hotels in Krabi, Hua Hin, Cha am hotels and many more. One can scan through the list of hotels on the site and easily book from it online from the comfort of their home or office. There is no need to go anywhere and this makes it very easy to book and that also by getting amazing discounts. The site has truly made it very convenient to book hotels in Thailand and has made the holiday in the beautiful country much more fun and exciting.

Perfect Desert Vacation at Kaufmann House

M.H.M — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:37:13 +0000

Originally designed by Richard Neutra, The Kaufmann House, which is located in Palm Springs, California is among the most incredible house in the United States. The 1946-built house was just recently renovated by Marmol Radizner architecture practice. Many critics place the house amongst the most important houses of the 20th century in the United States and even was included in a list of all time top 10 houses in Los Angeles in December 2008. Thanks to DigsDigs that we can see these beautiful architecture arts of Kaufmann House.

It features five bedrooms and five bathrooms and designed to emphasize connection between a rugged desert and a suburban residential neighborhood. Large sliding glass walls open the living spaces and master bedroom to outdoors. Most of outdoor areas have movable vertical fins that offer flexible protection against sandstorms and intense heat. The house represents itself as a great desert vacation retreat from harsh winters.

The Beautiful Sceneries of Costa Rica

M.H.M — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 05:29:37 +0000

If you are looking for an ideal vacationing site along the Atlantic coast, then Costa Rica might just be the place for you. There are a number of tourist attraction sites that will appeal to you. Costa Rica is on the northern side of the Caribbean. It is one of the places that are close to the border.

Costa Rica is ideal for sport fishing vacations. The ideal fishing conditions ensure that most of the fishermen flock the area. There is plenty of fish all through the year. Costa Rica shares the north coast together with Limon and Rio San Juan. Limon lies at the center.

Most of the tourists come to this area to see the sandy beaches. The beaches are known to be the breeding area for green turtles. You can go for sport fishing at the National Refuge Barra del Colorado. From this site, you will be able to fish for various species of fish. You can also observe some of the wildlife in their natural habitat. The area is famous for its wide variety of turtles and avian creatures.

In 1985, Barra Colorado was open to the public. It is a habitat that was created so that the wildlife could continue living in their natural habitat. The wildlife refuge is on the tip of North Caribbean. The tourist attraction site has a lot of physical features. These features ensure that the place gives the habitants a feeling of being in their natural habitats. The area does not experience any dry season since it has annual rainfalls that are almost 6000mm.

Another must see location is the Tortuguero National park. It was established in mid 1970s. This national park offers the widest selection of wildlife in all of Costa Rica. The landscape in the national park is very fertile. Costa Rica stretches from Limon to Panama’s border.

Limon is a well known tourist destination. It host a number of tourist attraction features all in one location. In Limon, you get to experience the culture of the natives. You also get to see some of the natural resources that the country boasts of. The beaches in Limon have a unique quality to them.

The beaches in Limon are superior to those on other parts of Costa Rica. You can participate in a number of fun filled activities. The culture that is dominant in the area is blended into every aspect of the people’s lives. You can get to observe some of the coastal features in their full splendor.

Last Minute But Cheap Holidays Selection

M.H.M — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:34:53 +0000

Holidays are truly the magical time of the year when one leaves troubles and stress behind to create great memories with family and friends. Holidays no longer have to be restricted to places that are within small distances because of wonderful advances in technology and other amenities. Given the growth of tourism in several countries, exotic locales that weren’t accessible before have been thrown open to create great memories and have wonderful adventures at. However, how many times does one have to compromise on that dream holiday because of the cost? Indeed expensive holidays can play spoilsport to many holiday plans. However, times are now changing.

With Fleetway travels, great holidays no longer have to leave a dent in your pocket. Yes, one can now truly enjoy Cheap Holidays without compromising on the experience and the adventure. It is now possible to enjoy all inclusive holidays without stressing about last minute preparations and bookings. Be it travel arrangements, accommodation and every other aspect of a holiday, it can all now be taken care of at the comforts one’s home. Last minute plans? Not a problem. Everything can now be booked with great ease and convenience, choosing the amenities of one’s preference. Most importantly, at great prices.

It is now easy to book a holiday to great destinations such as Egypt. The home to one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, the land has fascinated explorers and adventure lovers alike. Now one can have cheap Holidays to Egypt . Spanning the beauty of the Nile , marvelling at the tombs of the pharaohs and bustling through the busy street markets. Cheap deals on hotels and great luxury cruises on the Nile river are now available for each and every curious traveller and adventure seeker. Cheap holidays in Egypt now await everyone.

For those seeking a wonderful holiday in Turkey, the time has never been so right. For everyone from the art lover to the history buff to the excited shopper, Turkey has something exotic to offer everyone. With exquisite cuisine, jaw dropping beauty of beaches and a shopper’s paradise, Turkey is a dream destination. With Fleetway travels it is now possible to soak in the magnificence of Holidays to Turkey. Luxury 5 star resorts comparable to the best in the world, great deals on sightseeing and so much more to experience at cheap prices. Adventure and enjoyment have never been so cheap and accessible.

Taking Gap Year Travel in Africa

M.H.M — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:05:03 +0000

There are many who wish to take a gap year from their job or education. There are lots to do in the world when one wants to take a break from the things they do in life. With the help of The Leap one can do lots of things in the year that they take off. They offer a great combination of eco-tourism, conservation and community projects in all parts of the country so that the break is not only very enjoyable but also very exciting and adventurous. They have many opportunities in eco tourism where one can involve themselves in the lodges in the jungle and also the safari camps. The break from work or studies can be easily spent in Africa. The gap year Africa has so much to do for everyone with the wildlife and the safari camps.

Another morning out on safari! | Click to Enlarge :O

The experience one can get in the community projects is also simply amazing. One can work on the animal species that are endangered or also help the injured animals to rehabilitate. There are also many programs on anti poaching measures in countries like Venezuela and South Africa. Gap year travel is a great way to spend the break. The Leap offers many destinations in different countries giving every individual the choice to choose as per what they like and also what they would like to do in the gap year. There are many leaps one can choose from and irrespective of which one you choose you will have lots to do in the break that you take from your career. The programs give a unique experience undoubtedly and there is lot of adventure and excitement involved in all activities. One for sure learns a lot and that also by enjoying.

An enjoyable cool down at Leapers base | Click to Enlarge :O

The Leap is undoubtedly the best place for you when you are planning on taking a year off and are thinking of what to do in that year so that the gap does not go waste. There will be a lot of variety in whichever leap you choose and the sense of fun and enjoyment will also be great. So if you are bored and planning to take a year off then go to The Leap and find the best program which will suit your needs and accelerate your learning curve with a lot of thrill and fun.

Found while out on safari – vets at the ready | Click to Enlarge :O

A proud team of South African Leapers | Click to Enlarge :O

A spectacular sight out on safari at Krugar National Park | Click to Enlarge :O

Safari at Kwa Madwala | Click to Enlarge :O

Hello! | Click to Enlarge :O

Conservation on the Reserve | Click to Enlarge :O

Teaching at the school | Click to Enlarge :O

The Leapers get Leaping! | Click to Enlarge :O

Bungy jumping is optional! | Click to Enlarge :O

A bird in the rehabilitation centre | Click to Enlarge :O

Time out – white water rafting | Click to Enlarge :O

New York Sightseeing Tourism [/w PICS]

M.H.M — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:21:22 +0000

What is spring without the luscious greens and vibrant petals? Even spring season has long passed; city of New York has never lost its freshness. New York can be quite a scintillating attack on the senses, an explosion of sounds, colors and scents. That is the reason one of the biggest city in the world is spotted as among the best tourist city in the world where it attracts more than hundreds millions of visitors each year. New York City Sightseeing is the most popular business that in-charge with warm and tip-top service to the tourists. Their unique fleet of 60 new double-decker buses are always adventurous, punctual and really cheap, that they can optimize tourist’s view of the New York City.

Besides double-decker buses, they are offering packages that includes cruises, museum visits, helicopter tours and motor coach tours to nearby cities like Boston and Washington D.C. These packages are really great value for your money as they provide maximum service with great satisfaction. The price will be much cheaper if you book online in the website.

The tourists should not have to worry if they have ridiculous goal of one day spending a 24-hour period in New York City and spending less than $300 – including travel, food, lodging and sightseeing. I can assure you that the dream is not impossible to achieve with the sightseeing package included in the budget. This is because of the most expensive things in New York City travel is tickets for sightseeing itself. Have a nice holiday! Do enjoy every inches of beautiful sceneries in Ney York City.

Images Resource: Flickr

Magnificent Croatia: A Memorable Vacation

M.H.M — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:16:19 +0000

There are few cars because most vehicles are too wide to fit within the narrow valleys lined between houses, shops and churches in Croatia. Located in Central and Southeastern Europe, the country of 4 million populations has among the most beauty scenery in the world. The visitors do not have to worry about the accommodation because there are quite many reliable travel agencies can be found on the net. The best option I could suggest you is Croatia Apartments. They are fascinating with very warm staffs and top services.

Some of you might decide in last-minute to have a visit after seeing beautiful photos of Croatia. You should not worry of expensive apartment’s price because I just found a very good deal for you. This deal is exactly suitable for those who have Last Minute Croatia. You can have up to 40% discount using this last minute deal. Thus, your plan of having vacation in gorgeous Croatia will not go to a vain.

Some people do not like cheap accommodation and I understand it very well. This kind of people always expects the attractive places are well packaged with luxury accommodations. There are couples of Luxury Croatia Villas available and this selection of villas will not make you disappointed. Believe it! I can guarantee you will fall in love with this deal. You can enjoy your party, your family reunion or even wedding reception with this luxury deal. All in all, Croatia is indeed a very magnificent place that I admire for long. Have a nice holiday! Do enjoy every inches of beautiful sceneries in Croatia.

Photos Resource: Flickr

Travel to Romantic Paris City

M.H.M — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:32:45 +0000

After about 13 hours of direct flight from Kuala Lumpur International airport (KLIA), we finally touched down at Charles de Gaulle Airport. We were a bit disorientated at first, and there were so many people at the airport. We went through the immigration custom very smoothly without any problem linked to the SARS issue from our country. However, we were quite worried as our passports were not stamped at the custom. We clarified this at the information counter and were relieved that it was not mandatory for that.

Paris is beautiful beyond words, with nice alleyways between the fine, elegant old buildings. Our backpacks were very heavy. We headed directly to AIJ, an international hostel providing bare-bones accommodation; but most importantly, it is located in the city centre and walking distance to Bastille district and Ledru Rollin Metro Station.

We checked in at AIJ Hostel around 10am but it was still early to get our room. We left our backpacks in a storage room with other people’s backpacks. Rather concerned with the safety of our belongings, we used a chain to secure our backpacks together and padlocked the chain.

We walked to Bastille. It was like a marketplace with many people. We visited the Carnavalet museum (Musée Carnavalet in French) in the Marais district, free admission. This museum is devoted to the history of Paris from its origins to recent times. The architecture of the building is in renaissance style. It has many reconstituted palace rooms and a collection of paintings.

Lunch time. We walked to a peaceful and refreshing garden in The Place des Vosges that lies at the heart of Marais district. There were many people lying on the soft short grass; some were reading and some were just relaxing under the blue sky. We bought some kebab sandwiches from a nearby Turkish stall and had picnic at the garden. We were rather prudent in spending Euro dollars (in 2003, it was S$1.98 = 1 euro) so we tried to share food and buy out meals.

Palau: Among the Best Beach in the World

M.H.M — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:35:56 +0000

My new travel friends and I were really having good time when we spend our time at Palau, Micronesia. We were scuba diving most of the time that we stayed in the island and I don’t have any idea of whatsoever because we were always together the whole time. Too tired but fun!

One afternoon, we went to the Rock Islands where we strolled and enjoyed the scenic and attractive mushroom-shaped islets. And I didn’t have a clue that at the end of the last islet awaits their hint to surprise me with a huge birthday cake and it was so romantic and special. There was and aisle filled with flowers and at the end was a pillar-like table where an Ecuadorian Rose was laid beautifully. I was so stunned and overwhelmed to what I saw and become speechless. It was very special and I thanks them generously. That was the best birthday ever and even my other friends envied me because I have the among the best group of friends in my life.

Places of Interest in Sydney

M.H.M — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:44:04 +0000

Have you ever visiting Australia ? Well i guess you should go and see for yourself. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, action, relaxation or want to discover Australia’s hidden treasures, Sydney has it all… Today I will tell you a bit on a few places of interest, attractions and event that happened around Sydney.

Sydney is a city of full of unique festivals and events, great scenery and yet one of the most fast-moving, becoming one of a great cities on the planet. So, what’s there in Sydney? First we are going to take a look at the Sydney Opera House, It’s an Australia’s most famous building. That’s why it has been listed as a “must-see” travel attraction. In other words, your travel is not perfect until you go and see this place. Among other attractions are Sydney Skywalk, Sydney Showboats and Sydney Harbour Cruises.

For Skywalk, it is a unique high-altitude adventure on top of Sydney Tower. At 268meters (879 feet) above Sydney, Skywalk takes you on an exhilarating outdoor walk at the roof of the city, double the height of Sydney Harbor Bridge.Dressed in protective clothing and safety-harnessed to external walkways, Skywalk guests experience a buzz unmatched by any other Sydney attraction. Step out onto the clouds as you venture across the glass-floored viewing platform for 360-degree views over glittering Sydney and beyond.

And for exclusive part, you might want to board Sydney Harbor Cruises. Join an evening of quality dining and entertainment featuring a program of the world’s most popular arias, performed by principal Australian opera singers. A unique dining and entertainment experience that will make your evening an event. You can choose either Comedy Dinner Cruises, Salsa Latin Floor Show Cruises, or Rock n Roll Lunch Cruises. Other beautiful places that you can visit is like King Cross, Sydney Markets, Watsons bay and for historic building you can go visit Elizabeth Bay House, Susannah Place and Vaucluse House.

Venice the Romantic Water City

M.H.M — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:04:33 +0000

VENICE have epithet Love Town besides Paris of course, surely we can have a romantic atmosphere there. Otherwise, Venice resident skillful to make handicraft, becoming one of the tourism attractiveness.

Choose month of April-May to visit Venice because that is a springtime where the weather not cool enough and suitable weather for tourist from tropical state and avoid to visit Venice in summer – on month of July – August– besides its weather extremely hot and high level of tourist’s density, smell of Venice river because of sunshine’s effect and air humidity. Most Indonesian people choose October to go there because that is a winter time where snow falls down at that moment.

Venice is easy to reach from another Italian town whether by car, bus or train. We can directly take water bus from Ferrovia Santa Lucia station, otherwise the bus stop and the biggest parking area which is located in Piazzale Roma across directly with water bus station. There is also an airport in Mestre, it’s about 10 kilometers outside the town, and also Venice Mestre’s station, which is the last dot of Venice majors cart route where connected this city with Treviso, Padova, Parma, Bari, Milan until Zagreb.

Venice split by especial river called Canal Grande. Its function is very important because it’s like a main road for Venice resident. The Great street of Venice length around 3.5 km and encircled by ancient buildings and palaces from 13th up to 18th centuries. It is dressed of mixture between Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.

We can rent a gondola, Venice famous boat rolled by an oar, (or water bus for cheaper cost’s) to enjoy the beauty of Canal Grande. Gondola is the most chosen transportation by tourists to fringe the beauty of Water town which built since IX century. Why it called Water town? It’s because of Venice was built from 118 archipelago and it has 180 canals. This exotic town facing Adriatic Sea connected almost by 400 bridges!! What an extraordinary.