Beaming Bali, Indonesia

Cycling the Balinese path to happiness

By Dianna Beaufort

Everyone in Bali smiles. Big, broad, beaming smiles. And all that’s necessary to evoke it is eye contact. Even when they may be preoccupied with weaving their scooters through traffic or carrying a heavy, flailing pig across the road, you only have to hint at a smile from your own lips and the response is immediate and electrifying.



"Transport?" queried a smiling young man on a sidewalk in Ubud, an artsy town in the south-eastern hills. It’s a frequent offer on the streets of nearly every town in Bali. Everyone with a car will offer you a ride for a small price. You may say "no thank you" seven times on Monkey Forest Road in Ubud. But what’s heart-warming is that you will always receive an enthusiastic "Welcome!" in response.


As one of Indonesia’s luxury destinations, Bali is a truly service-oriented society and economy. Away from the resorts on the coast, there is less commercial zeal and more genuine friendliness. Culturally, Bali differs from other Indonesian islands, and indeed is an exception in this predominantly Muslim country with its Hindu-Buddhist history. It is this history that shapes the Balinese approach to life and the Balinese landscape.

Exploring the surroundings of Ubud on bike is perhaps the best way to take in the beautiful landscape, with all its rice terraces, temples, villages and cackling roosters. I signed up for a daytrip with Arung from Bali Moon Group. We began with a morning stop at an eclectic orchard growing everything from mangosteen, papaya and peanuts to cacao, coffee beans and tea leaves. Arung also introduced us to salak, a fruit with a brown, snake-scaled skin that looks like a nut inside and tastes like mixture of apple and pear.





After an invigorating ginger tea we were driven up to the edge of Mount Batur. The mountain bikes were unloaded and we were ready to start off downhill back towards Ubud. Arung had assured us back in the office that it was "all downhill", but some of us were taken aback by how steep downhill can be. And the road was just a rocky path. One of the English girls on the excursion already wanted to make use of the trailing van service that carried our backpacks, but was persuaded to stick with it since it would get easier.

Our reward, when it began to level out, was a school full of excited children running towards the road to greet us. Six and seven year old boys were exploding with excitement, seemingly overwhelmed by such an unexpected visit from strangers. "Hallo! Hallo!" they squealed, vying to make eye contact with any one of the cyclists and jumping for high-fives. Wide-eyed awe and giggles rippled through the crowd as our group responded to their eagerness. It felt like the Tour de France. A few boys ran with the bikes until they were out-paced or came to the end of the village.

We cycled along rice paddies, many of them flocked by ducks feeding on leftover grains. In the rolling countryside I could hear the lovely sound of bamboo music and wind chimes everywhere. We passed through several more villages, all laid out on a sloping north-south axis and flanked by walled enclosures that are the typical Balinese. Each had an elaborately carved gateway and immediately behind it a wall, the aling-aling, to keep floating evil spirits from sweeping in through the open gateway.

In one village an old man on a moped scooted up beside me to ride tandem and indulge in conversation. His smile was wide, his questions direct. "Where you from? Where you stay? Where you go?" He exudes a pride in managing dialogue with a foreigner and brushes off the cajoling of youngsters. As we neared the open countryside he veered off back into his village and signalled his final sentence with a wave,"The Balinese people welcome you. Good time."

Everyone, just everyone, genuinely wants to have contact and wish you well. When we came to the end of our cycle we were invited into a family home. The residential compound had sleeping pavilions for extended family members, a fountain in the middle, a temple and a low table for us to share dinner. A typical Indonesian meal is a selection of hot and cold plates, with spicy meats, peanut sauces and sautéed vegetables. Everyone was exhausted from the combination of heat and pedalling, and completely ready to feast on the buffet.

When our host came to collect our finished plates, she asked simply "Happiness?"


=== From :www.travelsinparadise.com ===

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Dhoni Mighili in The Maldives

Dhoni Mighili is the stuff that dreams are made of. A small island in Ari Atoll of The Maldives, to the south west of the capital Mahe.
You can either fly by seaplane from the airport, or be transported in your own personal private Dhoni, a superb start to what should be the vacation of a lifetime

The Dhoni Mighili is only two words, but once seen and experienced, never forgotten. Dhoni Mighili may seem like just another Maldives vacation, but having experienced it, there is just nothing like it anywhere, or at least anywhere that we have ever been.

Just imagine this:

A bungalow with a private plunge pool, and a 65 ft yacht [ called a Dhoni traditional Maldivian boat ] with a crew, and a private butler, and it is all yours from the moment you alight from your intercontinental jet, until you return.

We just loved the whole concept, from not having to pay out any money when you were there, it is very easy to forget how much you paid to get there in the first place!! Nevertheless it makes you feel you are on your own private island, and you can rent all six thatched bungalows plus the dhonis if you can afford it!!

As there are only twelve guests, the service is perfect, down to the last detail, and the Thakuru, private butler ensures that no stone is left unturned when it comes to what you want.

What a treat to be able to call up your own Dhoni, and crew, to go where you want, and stop where you want, which means you can just go sailing around and swimming from uninhabited islands.

The dhonis are so well equipped, with both sails and motor, comfy daybeds and tons of cushions in the bow. There is a king size bed in the cabin, with all the best kitchen appliances, and bathroom fittings, plus a hidden 30” LCD screen with Bose DVD surround theatre, which is well hidden.

I can tell you, that to be anchored up in your own private Dhoni, off an uninhabited coral atoll, watching’ Pirates of the Caribbean’ with a glass of champagne, sitting next to the person you love, having just eaten a sumptious meal, and been waited on hand and foot by your own personal butler, has no equals in life.

In fact it is all heavenly.

The island itself, is a soft pure white sand shoe, and watch free paradise. The sand is everywhere, even in the main reception and restaurant area.

The whole thing is just so classy and elegant without ever being overstated.

I still think of the bungalow with its’ own IPod, songs already downloaded to take with you, the small details that prove you are somewhere exceptional already taken care of before you arrive.

Everything you can think of has already been taken care of, from the kind of pillows you like, to the perfume of your soap, to your dietary requirements. If you like lobster, you get lobster, if you like steak you get steak, all beautifully cooked.

==Taken From : www.worldwidevacationspots.com ==

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Yoho National Park of Canada

Yoho, named for a Cree word expressing awe, is a park of rock walls, waterfalls and glacial lakes. It's a park with snow-topped mountain peaks, roaring rivers and silent forests. It's a park whose history is bound up with a railroad: spiral tunnels inside mountains and stories of runaway trains.

Established in 1886, the park currently spans 1,310 square kilometres (507 square miles) on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, and borders Banff National Park to the east and Kootenay National Park to the south.

Yoho's craggy peaks and steep rock faces posed an enormous challenge for Canada's early explorers. The mountains that were the curse of railway builders are responsible for the park's many waterfalls including Laughing Falls, Twin Falls, Wapta Falls and one of Canada's highest at 254 m (833 ft.), Takakkaw Falls. Silt carried by streams from melting glaciers high on the mountains is responsible for the deep, rich turquoise colour of Emerald Lake and Lake O'Hara.

Water is responsible for creating a natural rock bridge over the Kicking Horse River. Torrents have worn through a solid rockbed leaving a flat-rock bridge. Water erosion has also formed another Yoho marvel: balanced boulders on tall pillars of glacial till, called Hoodoos, found in the western end of the park.

Many of British Columbia's plants and animals reach their eastern extension in Yoho. The high peaks of the Continental Divide wring out the precipitation remaining in clouds moving eastward from the Pacific Ocean. This creates pockets of wet belt forest where coastal species such as devil's club, western red cedar and western hemlock thrive.

One of the world's most important fossil finds, the Burgess Shale, is located in Yoho. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1981, the Burgess Shale Formation contains the fossilized remains of more than 120 marine animal species dating back 515 million years. The Burgess Shale World Heritage Site is now incorporated into the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site with Yoho, Kootenay, Banff and Jasper National Parks and Mt. Assiniboine, Mt. Robson and Hamber Provincial Parks.
Some Yoho facts

* 28 mountain peaks more than 3000 m in height
* Takakkaw Falls, with a free fall of 254 m, is the third highest in Canada
* over 400 km of hiking trails
* most abundant large mammal in the park: mountain goat

Points of interest

Wapta Falls (24 km west of Field)
In 1858, near Wapta Falls, a pack horse kicked explorer James Hector in the chest, and the Kicking Horse River got its name. Wapta Falls is the full width of the river and drops 30m (100'). A short drive off the TransCanada Highway takes you to the start of an easy 2.4 km trail to the falls.

Hoodoos (22 km west of Field, in Hoodoo Creek Campground)
It's worth the steep hike to see these capped pillars of glacial debris. The 1.6 km trail starts in Hoodoo Creek Campground.

Natural Bridge (3 km west of Field, on the the Emerald Lake Road)
The Kicking Horse River has carved a natural bridge through solid rock, 1.6 km from the Trans-Canada highway on the Emerald Lake Road.

Emerald Lake (11 km west and north of Field, on the Emerald Lake Road)
Emerald Lake is popular for sightseeing, canoeing and hiking.

Yoho Valley Road (3 km east of Field)
Travel 13 km on this narrow, steep road beside the Yoho River to see Takakkaw Falls. Leave trailers at the parking lot across from Monarch Campground. Facilities on the Yoho Valley Road include Monarch and Kicking Horse Campgrounds, seasonal accommodation and viewpoints. The road is snowbound from mid-October to mid-June; it is used by cross country skiers in the winter.

Takakkaw Falls (13 km north of the TransCanada Highway, at the end of the Yoho Valley Road)
With a free-fall of 254 metres, Takakkaw Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada.

Lower Spiral Tunnel Viewpoint (8 km east of Field)
A fascinating display explains the history and operation of the spiral tunnels. From the platform, visitors have a spectacular view of the Yoho Valley, Yoho Glacier and the lower spiral tunnel portals in Mt. Ogden.

==from : www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/yoho==
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Victoria Falls, Zambia

Soaking up the power of Africa's mightiest waterfalls

By Andrea Davoust



While in Zambia on a work assignment, I took the first opportunity to escape from the dreary capital, Lusaka, and visit Victoria Falls, which are a six-hour bus ride away through flat, dry savannah. In fact, African public transportation schedules being what they are (“when it is full o'clock” is as close as it gets to a departure time), it took me and my friend Leila most of our Saturday to reach the characterless town of Livingstone, then the park.

We first heard the low rumble. Then we came across the life-size statue of David Livingstone, the Scottish explorer of Doctor-Livingstone-I-presume fame. As the first European to have seen the falls in the mid-19th century, he named them in honor of his monarch, Queen Victoria. A little further down the path, we caught our first glimpse of the cataracts. Stretching as far as the eye could see, curtains of furious white water tumbled down, divided by the rocks jutting from the crest of the falls. A massive cloud of spray rose from the gorge, hiding the depths of the chasm.


As we walked down the path that paralleled the falls and led to a narrow footbridge spanning the gorge, we noticed that all the people coming in our direction were soaked. Continuing beneath the protection of the trees, we began to feel fine drops, which, once on the bridge, turned into a literal upside-down rain, so thick was the spray. “Hence the clever stand renting out raincoats back there!” shouted Leila, as she started to run towards the other end. But the sun playing on the drizzle had created a beautiful rainbow, a sharp circle leaping over the walkway and plunging into the gorge. Later, as the sun descended over the far side of the falls, the light turned the haze into a golden cloud. The next day, we made our way to the bungee jumping center on Victoria Bridge, which spans the second gorge a few hundred meters downstream, linking Zambia with Zimbabwe. As we reached the entrance, 120 meters above the rocks and rapids of the Zambezi way below, my knees went weak. How could my so-called friend have talked me into hurling myself off that bridge? Feeling hollow inside, I trudged to the jumping platform, amid the traffic of indifferent African women carrying bundles on their heads. As the instructors strapped my gear on, they directed a steady stream of chatter at their (idiotically consenting) “victim”, to distract me from what was coming. I had picked the gorge swing, so I was to step off the structure, not drop headfirst. “Look straight ahead, not down, and when we count to three, just walk,” they told me.

My friend was almost in tears as the instructors gently pushed her into the void. She screamed all the way down. Bounced up. Fell again, still screaming. Later, she swore that she would “never again” perform such a jump, but it was too late - we had both earned our bragging rights in one of the world’s most amazing natural sites.

== From : travelsinparadise.com ==

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Fairytale in Interlaken, Switzerland

Skydive in the morning and then relax in an alpine village

By Josh Faircloth

Switzerland is a country of picturesque mountain ranges and quaint little alpine villages. I had always wanted to visit this beautiful country and now I was finally getting my chance. However, having spent the whole day on a train, I was starting to wear down and my excitement was dwindling to say the least.

A bus ride was in order before we would arrive at our final destination, but as the bus approached, I fel sense of dread boiling up within. It was getting late in the evening and I hadn’t booked accommodations, so we would have to search in the rain for a bed.

As the bus pulled off and meandered along the roadway, my spirits began to brighten a little as the scenery developed before me. The mountains gently descended down to meet the calm waters of an alpine lake. Outside my window, a rainbow appeared over the water, forming a scene so lovely, I went from a state of near exhaustion to an almost giddy exuberance. When the bus slowed to a halt, I stepped off with renewed energy and an eagerness to explore my new surroundings.

Interlaken was to be the home base for my Swiss adventure. This medium sized town is located in central Switzerland between the lakes Thun and Brienz. It offers plenty of shopping, nice architecture, and a variety of restaurants, but what really brings people to Interlaken is the wide variety of activities available due to its location in the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps.

The mountains around the city provide some of the finest skiing and snowboarding in the world during the cold months of the year when snow blankets the landscape. In the summer, extreme sports take center stage, with multiple companies offering an assortment of choices including bungee jumping, paragliding, river rafting, sky diving, hiking, ice climbing, mountain biking, glacier walks, canyoning, and for the particularly strong of stomach, zorbing.

Interlaken is surrounded by modestly sized mountains in the forefront, with bigger mountains in the distance. While the whole scene is impressive, the smaller mountains tend to shield the higher peaks from view, so I set out to get a better look from some of the neighboring towns. I had read in a guide book about a small village called Gimmelwald perched high in the mountains, and seeing that it wasn’t far away, I decided to make that my day trip destination.

The first stop was a town by the name of Lauterbrunnen. After stepping off the train and walking away from the station over a small hill, the panorama that unfolded before my eyes left me almost speechless. Snow-capped mountains formed a majestic stone wall around the narrow green valley.

Numerous waterfalls poured over the sides of the cliffs, adding to a scene unlike any I had ever observed. We ventured to the edge of town, where we found a small path that cut through a rolling green pasture. We followed the trail as it led to an outcrop carved into the stone mountain directly behind one of the waterfalls.

While trying not to slip on the wet rock floor, we reached out to try to touch the water cascading down just beyond the railing. After a few minutes, we slowly began our way out of the mist and back toward the station to hop on a bus toward Gimmelwald, not knowing if it could possibly top what we had already experienced, but eager to find out.

The easiest way to get to Gimmelwald is by gondola. Our gondola cabin was almost completely full, but almost everyone continued up the mountain when we stepped off. Walking outside, I was immediately overjoyed at what I found. Gimmelwald had no tourist office.

There were no streets lined with storefronts. The only sights to see were the mountains all around and the village itself. As we walked along the main street, or rather the main path, we passed quaint little houses and a fenced in lawn with a few chickens and a couple goats. I stopped in front of one particular spot that caught my eye; a house that seemingly sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the snowy peaks that made up the backyard.

By this time, we were getting a little hungry, so I rang the doorbell on a shop that advertised for an assortment of homemade snacks. After a short delay, a young man of about high school age opened the door and invited us inside the store, which was actually the front room of his home’s basement. We stopped at another house that offered sandwiches and drinks. There were tables set up on the front porch, so we sat down and enjoyed our lunch in the warm sun and crisp alpine air.

That night, I thought about Interlaken with its architecture, friendly people, and amazing variety of exciting things to do, but what I will remember most was there in Gimmelwald. I couldn’t help but love the simplicity and the relaxed nature. Slowing down and appreciating the small things are a fact of life there. That it was also one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen seemed like icing on the cake.

== From :www.travelsinparadise.com/==

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Tanah Lot - Bali

Tanah Lot is a tourism object that is very popular and has become one of the goals of tourists who visit Bali, Indonesia. The beautiful beach panorama attract so many tourist from around the worlds. If some times you pay a visit to Bali you must spend your time to visit the Tanah Lot tourism. In this tourism Location you will feel a different atmosphere with others. There are two temples that is located above the large stone. One is located at the top of the stone and one located on the cliffs similar to Pura Uluwatu. Pura Tanah Lot is a part of the temple Sad Kahyangan, Pura Tanah Lot is a sea temple is a place of worship deities sea guard.

According to legend, this temple was built by a Brahmana a rogue from Java. He is a successful Danghyang Nirartha that strengthen the belief of Balinese Hindu teachings and was build the Sad Kahyangan on the 16th century. At that time the authorities of Tanah Lot, Bendesa Beraben, was jealous because His followers start leaving him and follow Danghyang Nirartha. Bendesa Beraben told to Danghyang Nirartha to leave Tanah Lot. Danghyang Nirartha agree to leave Tanah Lot and before leaving the Tanah Lot with his strength he move the stone to the middle beach and building a temple there. He also change his shawl to be a temple guards Snake. The Snake is still there until now and scientifically this snake species including sea snakes that have characteristics such as the caudate flat fish, black and yellow striped and have a poison 3 times stronger than cobra snake. The end of the legend states that at the end Bendesa Beraben be come a pursuivant of Danghyang Nirartha.

Tanah Lot is located in the Beraban Village, Tabanan, Bali, about 13 km west of Tabanan. At the north of Pura Tanah Lot, there is a temple located on top of the cliffs that stick to the sea. The cliffs connected the temple with the land and shaped like a bridge (curve). Tanah Lot is known as a place to see the beautiful sunset , tourists usually crowded in the afternoon to see the beauty of the sunset here while enjoying the meal in the restaurants surrounding the Tanah Log Tourism object.

For those of you who like a souvenir from this tourism area, you can find along the way to the location of tourism is seen from the parking lot to the temple area found many art shop, in addition you can also see children who are back and forth offering you some beautiful souvenirs with a very cheap price.

Tanah lot tour location is also used as a religious celebration of the local community, Odalan or feast in the Temple is always celebrated once every 210 days, similar to other temples in Bali. The celebration time is near to the celebration of Galungan and Kuningan Day that is precisely the Holy Buddha Cemeng Langkir. At that time, many prayers will be pray in this Temple.

Taken from : "http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanah_Lot"
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Green Canyon (Cukang Taneuh) - Ciamis

Cukang Taneuh or Green Canyon is one of tourism object in West Java which is located in the Kertayasa Village, Cijulang, Ciamis ± 31 km from Pangandaran. This tourism object is a Cijulangg river that cut through the cave with and located between two hills with rocks and trees that presents unique attraction and challenging.

The Green Canyon is a natural tourism object that has a diverse charm and appeal that is interesting to visit, and thousands of tourists come here every year.

At first Green Canyon is only a place that has the potential various panorama of nature, the flow of water of Cijulang River, right in the headwaters, there is a cave made by a land bridge which is very stunning, crystal clear water reflect the greenness colour due to the depth, and the placee is located between two hills with rocks and trees.


The beauty of nature was able to attract many people. For that reason, the local community initiative to manage the place traditionally. Along with the increased of visitor, in 1986, the Institute of Village Community decided to maintain the location.

The Region is set to become the tourism place, after the Office for Tourism and Cultural District Ciamis took over management in 1991 ago. To improve the management of tourism, in 1996 an organization of tourism was formed. For Tourism Object Green Canyon, which consists of District officers and Community Groups of Tourism.

Under the management of this joint organization of tourism, throughout the year thousands of visitors came to the place. Green Canyon is a name familiar with the community. The local people call Cukang Taneuh (Land Bridge) because right in the upstream river Cijulang flow, there is a land bridge about three meters width, with a length about 40 meters.

The Bridge that connecting two cliffs above the river flows is formed a tunnel, called the Green Canyon. The Grand Canyon name at the first called by a visitors (tourists) Named Bill Joness that came from American, in 1989.

Bill Joness went through the location using a paddle boat without engine, After he back from the journey he commented that the river has similarities to the Green Canal in Colorado United States, or Okazaki, Kyoto, Japan, and at the first time he called the river as Green Canyon.

=== By : sonny marmuksinudin, Sindo ===
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San Francisco, CA Information by Rough Guides

SAN FRANCISCO proper occupies just 48 hilly square miles at the tip of a slender peninsula, almost perfectly centered along the California coast. Arguably the most beautiful, certainly the most liberal city in the US, it remains true to itself: a funky, individualistic, surprisingly small city whose people pride themselves on being the cultured counterparts to their cousins in LA – the last bastion of civilization on the lunatic fringe of America. It's a compact and approachable place, where downtown streets rise on impossible gradients to reveal stunning views of the city, the bay and beyond, and blanket fogs roll in unexpectedly to envelop the city in mist. This is not the California of mono-tonous blue skies and slothful warmth – the temperatures rarely exceed the seventies, and even during summer can drop much lower.

The original inhabitants of this area, the Ohlone Indians, were all but wiped out within a few years of the establishment in 1776 of the Mission Dolores, the sixth in the chain of Spanish Catholic missions that ran the length of California. Two years after the Americans replaced the Mexicans in 1846, the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills precipitated the rip-roaring Gold Rush. Within a year fifty thousand pioneers had traveled west, and east from China, turning San Francisco from a muddy village and wasteland of sand dunes into a thriving supply center and transit town. By the time the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, San Francisco was a lawless, rowdy boomtown of bordellos and drinking dens, something the moneyed elite – who hit it big on the much more dependable silver Comstock Load – worked hard to mend, constructing wide boulevards, parks, a cable car system and elaborate Victorian redwood mansions.


In the midst of the city's golden age, however, a massive earthquake, followed by three days of fire, wiped out most of the town in 1906. Rebuilding began immediately, resulting in a city more magnificent than before; in the decades that followed, writers like Dashiell Hammett and Jack London lived and worked here. Many of the city's landmarks, including Coit Tower and both the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, were built in the 1920s and 1930s. By World War II San Francisco had been eclipsed by Los Angeles as the main west coast city, but it achieved a new cultural eminence with the emergence of the Beats in the Fifties and the hippies in the Sixties, when the fusion of music, protest, rebellion and, of course, drugs that characterized 1967's "Summer of Love" took over the Haight-Ashbury district.

In a conservative America, San Francisco's reputation as a liberal oasis continues to grow, attracting waves of resettlers from all over the US. It is estimated that over half the city's population originates from somewhere else. It is a city in a constant state of evolution, fast gentrifying itself into one of the most high-end towns on earth – thanks, in part, to the disposable incomes pumped into its coffers from its sizeable singles and gay contingents. Gay capital of the world, San Francisco has also been the scene of the dot.com revolution's rise and fall. The resultant wealth at one time made housing prices skyrocket – often at the expense of the city's middle and lower classes – but the closure of hundreds of start-up IT companies has brought real-estate prices back down to (almost) reasonable levels. Despite the city's current economic ebbs and flows, your impression of the city likely won't be altered – it remains one of the most proudly distinct places to be found anywhere.

=== From : travel.yahoo.com ===
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Seattle, WA Information by Rough Guides

Curved around the shore of Elliott Bay, with Lake Washington behind and the snowy peak of Mount Rainier hovering faintly in the distance, SEATTLE has a magnificent setting. The insistently modern skyline of glass skyscrapers gleams across the bay, an emblem of three decades of aggressive urban renewal.

Seattle's beginnings were inauspiciously muddy. Flooded out of its first location on the flat little peninsula of Alki Point, in the 1850s the town shifted to what's now Pioneer Square, renaming itself after the Native American Chief Sealth (hence Seattle). This was soggy ground, and the small logging community built its houses on stilts. As the surrounding forest was gradually felled and the wood shipped out, Seattle grew slowly until the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 put it firmly on the national map. World War I boosted shipbuilding, and the city was soon a large industrial center. Trade unions, based around the shipworkers, grew strong, and the Industrial Workers of the World, or "Wobblies," coordinated the US's first general strike here on February 6, 1919.


Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the Boeing airline corporation was crucial to the city's wellbeing, booming during World War II and employing one in five of Seattle's workforce by the 1960s. The prosperity that Boeing and more recent success stories such as Microsoft and internet shopping site Amazon.com have brought the city is obvious, reflected in a restored old center, a nationally acclaimed arts scene with vibrant movie and music industries, and a flood of coffee houses and excellent seafood restaurants. No longer overshadowed by the two big California metropolises, Seattle now regularly tops magazine surveys of desirable places to live, attracting migrants across the social and economic spectrum, which has led to both exponential growth and increasingly nightmarish traffic jams. As if to round out the turbulent decade, a February 2001 earthquake shook Seattle's foundations, and reminded its resi dents that they're just as prone to Pacific Rim tremors as their southern counterparts in the Golden State.

Despite the dizzying expansion, the city's more established neighborhoods remain distinctive, and Seattle has a pleasantly down-to-earth ambience. However, its new-found affluence jars uncomfortably with a visible street community of teenage runaways and homeless people – as well as a growing radical scene that splashed across the world's newspapers and TV screens with the WTO trade conference in 1999, an event that saw black-clad anarchists rioting amidst peaceful protesters in turtle outfits.
=== From : travel.yahoo.com ===
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New York City, NY Information by Rough Guides

The most beguiling city in the world, New York is an adrenaline-charged, history-laden place that holds immense romantic appeal for visitors. Wandering the streets here, you'll cut between buildings that are icons to the modern age – and whether gazing at the flickering lights of the midtown skyscrapers as you speed across the Queensboro bridge, experiencing the 4am half-life downtown, or just wasting the morning on the Staten Island ferry, you really would have to be made of stone not to be moved by it all. There's no place quite like it.


While the events of September 11, 2001, which demolished the World Trade Center, shook New York to its core, the populace responded resiliently under the composed aegis of then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Until the attacks, many New Yorkers loved to hate Giuliani, partly because they saw him as committed to making their city too much like everyone else's. To some extent he succeeded, and during the late Nineties New York seemed cleaner, safer, and more liveable, as the city took on a truly international allure and shook off the more notorious aspects to its reputation. However, the maverick quality of New York and its people still shines as brightly as it ever did. Even in the aftermath of the World Trade Center's collapse, New York remains a unique and fascinating city – and one you'll want to return to again and again.

You could spend weeks in New York and still barely scratch the surface, but there are some key attractions – and some pleasures – that you won't want to miss. There are the different ethnic neighborhoods, like lower Manhattan's Chinatown and the traditionally Jewish Lower East Side (not so much anymore); and the more artsy concentrations of SoHo, TriBeCa, and the East and West Villages. Of course, there is the celebrated architecture of corporate Manhattan, with the skyscrapers in downtown and midtown forming the most indelible images. There are the museums, not just the Metropolitan and MoMA, but countless other smaller collections that afford weeks of happy wandering. In between sights, you can eat just about anything, at any time, cooked in any style; you can drink in any kind of company; and sit through any number of obscure movies. The more established arts – dance, theater, music – are superbly catered for; and New York's clubs are as varied and exciting as you might expect. And for the avid consumer, the choice of shops is vast, almost numbingly exhaustive in this heartland of the great capitalist dream.

===From : travel.yahoo.com ===
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Mentawai Island: the Ultimate Diversity of the Hidden Paradise in Indonesia

The Place and the People

Located in the middle of Indian Ocean, 150 km and takes 9 hours trip from Padang, West Sumatra-Mentawai glowing with all the nature spirits and make it an extraordinary escaping spot from a hectic life. Mentawai is the natural habitat for 16 endemic species, and some of them categorized as endangered species e.g. Simakobu monkey (simias concolor-eat leaf as primary food).

www.freelinesurf.com.au
The present life of Mentawai people categorized as the legacy from Neolithic era and they have a strong believe in nature spirit, for their life strongly affected by nature. They believe that nature is the center of life. All the genuine attributes make Mentawai a perfect place to gain cultural experiences, here you will notice a very fascinating and indigenous culture, like traditional cloths, art, music and the way of life. The entire culture attributes strongly reflects their respect to nature.


Tattoo is one of the most important symbol for Mentawai people, its reflect maturity, manhood and status. The art of this body painting inherit from their ancestor. The tattoos ink naturally made from leaf.
www.freelinesurf.com.au

Among the surfers, Mentawai is the best place to fill their demand for challenges and natures beauty. The beaches offer one of the highest wave in the world, 3 to 4 meters, totally challenge your gut. Once you grounded your self in this hidden Paradise Island, next you will paddle out to the worlds best surf. Dont call your self Surfer if you havent ride Mentawais waves said most of the surfer to expressed their surfing experiences in Mentawai

www.freelinesurf.com.au
There are four ultimate diving spot here in Mentawai ,Siberut, Sipora, Pagai Utara (north Pagai) and Pagai Selatan (south Pagai). You can find great waves here year round, but the best waves are during dry season, March to October. Make sure you have the gut to explore all the glassy waves, because the best way to entitled your surfing experiences remarkable is through finding your own.



Getting There

* Take flight from Sukarno Hatta air port, Jakarta to Tabing air port,
Padang-west Sumatra (flight served every day)
* Trip from Teluk Bayur port, Padang to Mentawai island by Ferry

Where to Stay

Lot of visitors said, that the best housing to stay is the local people house. Offer you a distinctive way of living in a unique architecture and experience interacting with local people. Other wise you could stay in a budget hotel in Siberut
www.freelinesurf.com.au

Moving Around

To access all the beauties offered, you can use boat owned by local people. You can find the boat a long the beach and the rate depend on your bargaining power

Boost your taste with exotic and fresh sea foods that you can found in the local restaurants run by local people. If you are lucky enough, you can pick and cook your own sea food, but make sure you know the secret recipe/spices from Mentawais people. For those who are not sea food lover, you can find regular meals for your dining.


Souvenir Tips

Local hand made souvenirs like traditional hats, traditional bag and accessories will be genuine souvenirs for your relatives and friends. You can buy it in a souvenirs shop or buy it from local people directly.
www.freelinesurf.com.au



Other Things to See or Do

Beach Activities

* sight seeing
* Diving
* Snorkeling

Cultural Activities

* Learn how to perform the Traditional dances (war dance and gratitude to nature)
* Traditional ceremonies
* Mentawai is one of the best place to conduct an Ethnographic study since its
one of the oldest tribe in Indonesia

Ecotourism Activities
As the habitat for rare primate, the natural rain forest of Mentawai will be the perfect place for research or other educational purpose. Here, you can conduct research about

* Snub-nosed monkey/Simakobu (Simias concolor) monkey family eat leaf as primary
food
* Joja or Lutung Mentawai (Presbytis potenziani) easily identified for the long
tail, white face and black hair head
* Bokkoi atau Beruk Mentawai (Macaca pagensis)
* Kloss Gibbon/Bilou or Siamang Kerdil (Hylobates klossii) famous for the
beautiful voice, different compared to general monkey



Travel Tips

* Nature and culture come to be understood and respected
* Bring your own surf board with you, because its may hard to find surf board
shop in Mentawai
* You may arrange your travel using the local travel agent in Indonesia
* Great wave can be find year round, but best wave is during dry season March to
October
* Bring your personal medicine
* You may arrange your visit by contact the travel agent and airline services
in Indonesia

=== www.my-indonesia.info ===

Photos Copyrigt : www.freelinesurf.com

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Nusa Dua The Beautiful Beach in Bali - Indonesia

Bali's most prestigious resort area, Nusa Dua is where the tourists will find international world, class luxury hotels elegantly lining beautiful white sands. Located on the Bukit peninsula, in the southern part of Bali, approximately 10 km from the international airport. It is quiet and exclusive with superb facilities.

Crystal clear water and stretches of white sandy beach of Nusa Dua makes Nusa Dua a perfect spot for luxurious resorts to which exhausted the bodies, after a Barong performance at Batubulan and a long climb of the steps of the Mother Temple Besakih, will want to rest. Some of the most sumptuous and luxurious hotels in the world find their home in Nusa Dua Bali. We can tee off into the sunset, while watching the gentle waves come from the blue sea and caress the banks surrounding the luscious greens. Tranquil swimming pools under the coconut trees seem to be one with the distant blue sea. Art galleries and numerous shops surround them.


Nusa Dua is really about taking it easy and relaxing in total luxury. As most of the hotels are 5 stars, every comfort is at our disposal as well as a gorgeous white sand beach. Nusa Dua was designed for the luxury conscious with a heavy concentration of big name hotels lining the beautiful white sand beach. The kind of activities on offer gives a flavor of Nusa Dua. The Golf and Country Club, an immaculately landscaped 18 holes ocean view course. The BaliBali International Lawn Tennis & Lawn Bowls Club next to the Galleria Nusa Dua a spacious shopping mall with boutiques and up market restaurants. Close by Chandra Koka Amphitheatre provides a venue for traditional entertainment including arts festivals like the Nusa Dua Arts and Culture Festival. Stroll to the northern end of Nusa Dua for parasailing, jet skis, snorkeling/diving trips or better still, head for Tanjung Benoa.
Some of the resorts have private beaches but most areas are accessible. The stretch past the Hilton Resort has been a public beach and during the wet season, the outer reef there is a popular surf break. At present we will find some simple warungs selling good food at cheap prices along this beautiful stretch of white sandy beach that offers excellent swimming conditions in a protected lagoon.

== From : Indonesia-tourism.com ==
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Honolulu, Information by Rough Guides

Stretching for around a dozen miles along the southern coast of Oahu, and home to more than 400,000 people, HONOLULU is by far Hawaii's largest city. As the site of the islands' major airport and of the legendary beaches and skyscrapers of WAIKIKI, it also provides most visitors with their first taste of Hawaii. Many, unfortunately, leave without ever realizing quite how out of keeping it is with the rest of the state.

Honolulu only came into being after the arrival of the foreigners; from the early days of sandalwood and whaling, through the rise of King Sugar and the development of Pearl Harbor, to its modern incarnation as a tourist dreamland, the fortunes of the city have depended on the ever-increasing integration of Hawaii into the global economy. Benefits of this process include an exhilarating energy and dynamism, and the cosmopolitan air that comes from being a major world crossroads. Among drawbacks are the fact that there's little genuinely Hawaiian about Honolulu, and the rampant over-development of Waikiki.

The setting is beautiful, right on the Pacific Ocean and backed by the dramatic pali (cliffs) of the Ko'olau mountains. Downtown Honolulu, centered around a group of administrative buildings that date from the final days of the Hawaiian monarchy, nestles at the foot of the extinct Punchbowl volcano, now a military cemetery. It's a manageable size, and a lot quieter than its glamourous image might suggest. Immediately to the west is livelier Chinatown, while the airport lies four or five miles further west again, just before the sheltered inlet of Pearl Harbor.

The distinct district of Waikiki is about three miles east of downtown, conspicuous not only for its towering hotels but also for the furrowed brow of another extinct volcano, Diamond Head. Although Waikiki is a small suburb, and one that most Honolulu residents rarely visit, for package tourists it's the tail that wags the dog. They spend their days on Waikiki's beaches, and their nights in its hotels, restaurants and bars; apart from the odd expedition to the nearby Ala Moana shopping mall, the rest of Honolulu might just as well not exist.

The sun-and-fun appeal of Waikiki may wear off after a few days, but it can still make an excellent base for a longer stay on Oahu. Downtown Honolulu is easily accessible, and holds top-quality museums like the Bishop Museum and the Academy of Arts as well as offering some superb rainforest hikes, especially in Makiki and Manoa valleys, just a mile or so up from the city center. You can also get a bus to just about anywhere on the island, while, if you rent a car, the North Shore beaches are less than two hours' drive away

==From : travel.yahoo.com===

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Cannes, France Information by Rough Guides

The film industry and all other manner of business junketing represent CANNES's main source of income in an ever-multiplying calendar of festivals, conferences, tournaments and trade shows. The spin-offs from servicing the day and night needs of the jetloads of agents, reps, dealers, buyers and celebrities are even more profitable than providing the strictly business facilities. Cannes may be more than its film festival, but it's still a grotesquely overhyped urban blight on this once exquisite coast – a contrast reinforced by the sublime Îles de Lérins, a short boat ride offshore and the best reason for coming here.

The old town, known as Le Suquet after the hill on which it stands, provides a great panorama of the twelve-kilometre beach, and has, on its summit, the remains of the fortified priory lived in by Cannes' eleventh-century monks and the beautiful twelfth-century chapelle Ste-Anne. These house the Musée de la Castre (daily except Tues: April–May & Sept 10am–1pm & 2–6pm; June–Aug 10am–1pm & 3–7pm; Oct–March 10am–1pm & 2–5pm; €3), which has an extraordinary collection of musical instruments from all over the world, along with pictures and prints of old Cannes and an ethnology and archeology section.


You'll find non-paying beaches to the west of Le Suquet, along the plages du Midi and just east of the Palais des Festivals. But the sight to see is La Croisette, the long boulevard along the seafront, with its palace hotels on one side and private beaches on the other. It's possible to find your way down to the beach without paying, but not easy (you can of course walk along it below the rows of sun beds). The beaches, owned by the deluxe palais-hôtels – the Majestic, Carlton and Noga Hilton – are where you're most likely to spot a face familiar in celluloid or a topless hopeful, especially during the film festival, though you'll be lucky to see further than the sweating backs of the paparazzi. Alternative entertainment can be had buying your own food in the Forville covered market two blocks behind the mairie, or by wandering through the day's flower shipments on the allées de la Liberté, just back from the Vieux Port.

Strolling on and off the main streets of Cannes – rue d'Antibes, rue Meynardier and the promenade de la Croisette – is like wading through a hundred current issues of Vogue. If you thought the people on the beach were wearing next to nothing, now you can see where they bought the sunglasses and swimming suits, the moisturizers and creams, the watch, the perfume, and the collar and leash for little Fou-Fou.

==From : travel.yahoo.com===

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Daytona beach Journey

With more work I was going to depression and no understand what we do, a very few word of any body not take keep, talk to all very loudly at few words of talk, all body hate to me, can’t know what we do. My boss is too kind and suggests me to leave some day and suggest to go for holiday at any nature area. I agreed with his suggestions and search on net where I would go, found Daytona beach picture on net and decided to will go there. My boss took reservations and tickets prices and took leave for seven days. Reserved near beach hotels rooms, which windows opened on front of beach at lowest rates and I got on internet hotels site.

Hotels of Daytona beach is too cheap and situated at enormous place, we loved that hotel and his services, Daytona beach hotels are always awesome due to front beach site, whatever arrived at Daytona city at near about 5 o’clock in evening, so tired, went to his hotel rooms (hotels is Quality inn-Daytona speedway hotel). Too big we found and great arrangement, like walls, bed, TV, online internet and so on) , due to more tired open firstly our hotel rooms window and got a lot of awesome fresh beach front air, took a long breath, after refreshment took some coffee with watching of TV. want to some fruits , went at near across street and took fresh fruit and also packed some dinner meals for night due to want no disturb me and ate our dinner with watching of TV. Next Morning –Went to beach, huge crowd to be found.. first time I watched more people on a beach, feel so excitement to swim in water of ocean, did this and lots of fun we gather in our mind. Forgetter our depression to watch beach and his awesome nature portions, we loved that place. Most time we spend here first day, which taste of some street fast food, also including fresh food, walking time we ate some snacks also. Hotel was not far from the beach so stayed at beach late evening, also watch amazing views of the sunset of the Daytona beach., marvelous place, I got and realize that. Night life is better then the day, due to lighting and music to hear about our ears. Late night we took some best ordered dishes at Charlie horse restaurant which is located 810 S Atlantic Ave, Ormond beach. too delicious taste of there seafood. Next day we want to visit sun splush park, located South Atlantic Avenue, we watched there water amazing fountains, volleyball courts, outdoor showers, also watch cool zone which is the coca cola sponsor. Also went to Sunglow fishing Pier—for fishing, we loved fishing to much.. hire fishing rode, caught more one two in evening time, but best for me. on the site of that place have restaurant, took his meals, yummy and best for all time. love it all time when we came here. Also we taste meal at Daytona beach at Maria Bonita, La Fiesta Restaurant ( a Mexican restaurant) , took some shopping on our best time my family, Skydive De land also too attractive tourist place, we watched also consist of Landing water parks, Lighthouse point parks, and his near by areas, too great, last day I had changed fully and remove his our depression, thanks to our boss after returned. Last day hired a boat and did the boating full day, watched nearby area of beach, near by light house, which was too awesome. after full the refreshment, at evening , took some pendant which looked like sea fishes at very cheap rates at near the markets, my wife too glad after my returned and changed mind. No talk loudly to her. I thought ‘ take some rest in our work and will go any nature fresh place in a year’.

== From : travel.yahoo.com==

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Palermo, Italy Information by Rough Guides

In its own wide bay underneath the limestone bulk of Monte Pellegrino, and fronting the broad, fertile Conca d'Oro (Golden Shell) Valley, PALERMO is stupendously sited. Originally a Phoenician, then a Carthaginian colony, this remarkable city was long considered a prize worth capturing. Named Panormus (All Harbour), its mercantile attractions were obvious, and under Saracen and Norman rule in the ninth to twelfth centuries Palermo became the greatest city in Europe – famed for the wealth of its court, and peerless as a centre of learning. There are plenty of relics from this era, but it's the rebuilding of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that shaped the city as you see it today.


It's worth making Palermo your first stop in Sicily; it's the island's main transport centre, and has Sicily's greatest concentration of sights. Money from Rome and the EU has facilitated the regeneration of the historic centre – the signs are obvious – but the obstacles remain huge. This is partly owing to the age-old system of kickbacks for contracts and tenders to bent politicians and the Mafia, which have creamed off much of the money. One of the few to stand up against this state of affairs was Leoluca Orlando, who, following his deposition by his own Christian Democrat party in 1990, went on to found and lead the anti-Mafia and anti-Masonic party, La Rete. As Palermo's mayor (1993–2001), his prominence on the national stage forced attention on reform of the city's institutions and reversed the tendency of neglect and decay that had characterized the city for centuries.

The essential sights are all pretty central and easy to cover on foot. Paramount are the hybrid Cattedrale and nearby Palazzo dei Normanni (Royal Palace), with its superb, mosaic-decorated chapel, the Cappella Palatina; the glorious Norman churches of La Martorana and San Giovanni degli Eremeti; the Baroque opulence of San Giuseppe dei Teatini and Santa Caterina; and first-class museums of art, archeology and ethnography.

This historical jumble of treasures has its downside. Many people have continued to live in their medieval ghettos, unemployment is endemic, the old port largely idle and petty crime commonplace. Don't be paranoid, though: things are not significantly worse than any other European city. By taking the usual precautions, not flashing bulging wallets or cameras around and avoiding any quiet neighbourhood, especially at night, you should feel perfectly safe.

==From : Travel.yahoo.com==

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Travel Safety Tips For Women Travelers

CHOOSING A HOTEL

Smaller is smarter: you want the staff to be familiar with guests and with you. The smaller the lobby, the more noticeable the loiterers.

Aim for a well-trafficked street (neighborhood restaurants and late-night stores mean traffic, corporate offices mean darkness). Affluent residential areas tend to have more reliable transportation and fewer threatening street people.

If you're still concerned about the area, ask a female employee--not one in reservations--whether she walks around at night. (Call the restaurant, for instance.)

A reception and concierge desk near the entrance, and/or the elevators, is more likely to deter non-guest undesirables.

There should be privacy for guests checking in: no one should be able to overhear a name, room number, or other personal information.

Room numbers should be written on the key envelope, not mentioned aloud or inscribed on the key--this way, anyone finding your key won't have access to your room.


Look for a parking lot that is well lit and secure. Find out if there's valet parking . . . and if it will be available when you need it. Use it, even it costs a little bit more.

Does the hotel gym have an attendant? Being alone and semi-dressed in the basement is not good for your health.

The hotel should have sufficient staff to walk you to your room late at night. Inquire when you book and you'll get an idea of how woman-friendly the hotel is.

ROOM RULES

Request one near the elevators and away from any renovation work. Have your key out when you leave the elevator.

You want to be far from emergency exits (which someone might pry open to avoid using the elevators), and on an upper floor away from catwalks and terraces.

The door should have double locks--one of which is a dead bolt--and a peephole. Bring along a security doorstop for extra protection.

The please make up this room sign tells everyone you're not there. Call housekeeping instead.

Conversely, the do not disturb sign can make the room seem occupied (especially handy if you leave expensive items inside).

Put expensive clothing on hangers under other garments. Robbers usually "shop" what they can see.

Lock valuables in the front-desk safe.

If your bag is stolen from the hotel, recruit management to search for it. Most hotel robberies are committed by the staff, and many properties, especially overseas, don't allow employees to leave with packages; thieves take the money and dump the rest.

Stand near the elevator buttons with your back to the wall; if threatened, push all the buttons at once with your back.

STREET SMARTS

Study a map before going out; once on the street, use a pocket-size guidebook to avoid looking like a tourist. Your hotel's concierge or a female employee can mark any dangerous areas on your map.

Dress down.

Avoid jewelry--even a chain that's fake gold can be ripped off your neck. Do consider wearing a wedding ring.

Loop a money belt around your belt loops so that if someone cuts it, it won't fall from your waist.

Be wary when getting off a bus or train, or riding stairs and escalators; that's when pickpockets tend to strike.

Carry just one credit card and photocopies of important documents. Divide money for small and larger purchases so you don't have to expose a wad of bills. (When sharing with friends, keep a kitty for common expenses to make digging for cash in public places unnecessary.) Become familiar with foreign currency before you need to use it.

Have gratuities ready for porters and doormen.

Use prepaid phone cards instead of carrying your card number.

Ask the concierge to make any restaurant reservations, and have him or her say, "Please take care of our guest, she's coming alone and will need a taxi home."

Should a car start to follow you, immediately turn and walk the opposite way.

If you must ask for directions, approach families or women with children. To be extra safe, say, "Where is the --? I'm meeting my husband there."

On sidewalks, keep your handbag and other valuables away from the street side (and on escalators, away from the opposite ramp).

If attacked, run, fight, and yell as loud as possible.

TRANSPORTATION SAVVY

Use covered luggage tags. Instead of your home address, write that of your office.

Lock all suitcases. If you make a lot of purchases on your trip, and your bag becomes full, secure the bag with strong tape.

In public rest rooms, use the corner stall.

On overnight flights, keep an eye on your valuables. A good idea is to put your valuables in a security waist pack (versus leaving it in your stowed carry on) and wear it while sleeping. When you go to the lavatory, take your purse/valuables with you.

Talk to female passengers and flight attendants on the plane about the safety of your destination.

In a busy area, if you deposit your belongings on your car's passenger seat, lock the door before walking around to the driver's side.

Don't exit a taxi until you're sure you've arrived at your destination. Pay while still in the car so that you can be sure you've gotten the proper change.

Stay close to your valuables when passing through airport security.

If you place your carry-on bag on the floor when sitting in a restaurant or other public area, put your foot through the strap; don't leave it loose.

Tear your name and address off magazines before leaving them on the plane. Why announce to the world that you're away?

So you won't get lost when leaving a tricky airport, hire a taxi to lead your rental car to the expressway. Don't use an unmarked taxi; if necessary, take public transportation to a city center.

Rent a mobile phone or bring your own. And put the police on speed dial.

On the road, if someone tries to get your attention or your car is bumped, don't stop until you arrive at a well-lit and busy area, or lacking that, stay in the car and blow the horn until someone comes to your aid.

If suspicious about "phony" police, don't open the window. Instead, hold your license against the glass.

In your car, keep items out of sight (especially maps and guidebooks). Hatchbacks leave your luggage in plain view.

When possible, park so you won't have to back out. It makes for a speedier departure.

GENERAL ADVICE

Don't just check the weather at your destination; also make a note of when the sun rises and sets.

Log onto an Internet chat room to obtain safety info about a place you're planning to visit.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A POLICE DETECTIVE ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT

I have to share some things I have learned in my job with you. In my job, I have read hundreds and hundreds of files, and have taken note of some of the mistakes women make. Let me preface this by saying that a woman is NEVER EVER EVER at fault for being raped or attacked, but there are definitely ways to reduce your risk of being a victim.

Here are the most common mistakes women make that could result in them getting kidnapped, attacked, and/or raped:

1. Getting into the attacker's car when he pulls a gun and orders you to get into his vehicle.

Most attackers don't want to shoot you ... they want you to get into the car so that they can drive you to a deserted place and torture you. Don't comply. Run screaming. It is MUCH more likely than not that he will just move on to an easier target.

2. Pulling over when a man drives alongside of you pointing at your car pretending something is wrong.

If this happens, drive to the nearest well-lit and populated gas station and look the car over yourself (or ask an attendant). Never pull over. Believe it or not, many women have fallen for this for fear of their car spontaneously exploding in the middle of the road. Not likely.

3. Not locking your doors while driving.

I have read several cases where the attacker simply walks up to a woman's car while she's at a traffic light and jumps in with his gun or knife drawn.

4. Opening your front door when you have not positively identified who is there.

If you don't have a peep hole, get one. I've seen countless cases where the attacker gains access to his victims simply by knocking on their door.

Don't let an attacker get into your home. He then has a private, relatively soundproof place to attack you.

5. Not being alert in parking lots.

If you go to the grocery store at night, don't be shy about asking for an escort to your car. Too many women are abducted from parking lots or even raped in the parking lot.

Look in your back seat before entering your car. Cars provide endless hiding places for attackers, both inside them and in between them.

Be aware of your surroundings by looking to the left and right and behind you with your head up all the time. You may appear paranoid and look funny to others, but an attacker will think twice about approaching someone who appears so aware of what's going on.

6. Trusting a clean cut, honest looking stranger.

I see mug shots of every sex offender. They do not look like monsters. They often look like they could be your friendly grocer,
bank teller, waiter, neighbor, clergy, doctor, etc. They are every age between 15 and 90, and probably beyond. Only a small minority actually look scary.

7. Trusting people to be alone with your children.

This is a difficult one, because child molesters end up being the LAST person the parents would believe is the molester.

Most of the child molesting cases I see involve the stepfather, the uncle, the sister's boyfriend, the mother's boyfriend, the grandfather, the baby-sitter, the neighbor, the family friend, the youth camp director, day care worker, etc. Although rare, even women can be molesters.

In every case, the perpetrator is a nice guy, trusting, good with children, and the family is baffled or even in disbelief that the person could be abusing their child.

When it comes to your children and grandchildren, be suspicious of everyone, no matter who they are. And pay attention to what your child says and how he/she reacts to the mention of different people in their lives.

I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable with this. I have the dirty job of reading all these files, and it makes me feel good to know that I can share some inferences from what I have learned. This is not an exhaustive list of what not to do, but just some things that I have observed more than just a few times.

Pass this on to the women in your lives.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU ARE BEING STALKED

If you think you are being stalked, phone or visit your local police immediately no matter how trivial the harassment may seem. This will enable them to record your complaint, log, monitor and build a profile of the offender. Ask for the name and serial number of the officer you see or speak to.

To assist prosecution:

Keep a record of all events, telephone calls etc., noting as much detail as possible including time and date of incidents.

Try to get photographic or video evidence of your stalker’s actions.

Do not throwaway parcels or letters. Try to handle them as little as possible and if possible place them in plastic sleeves or envelopes to preserve them.

You should read any mail you receive in case it contains threats or indecent / offensive language.

Get to know your neighbors so that they can keep a record of sightings and notify you of anything they may see or notice. Inform work colleagues about the harassment so they will be able to support and protect you (i.e. prevent calls from reaching you and prevent your stalker from gaining access).

Try to alter any daily routines, if possible ask friends to accompany you and always try to let someone know what your plans are and when they change. Although it may be hard, try to show no emotion towards the stalker, do not confront them and do not agree to meet them. If you do come into contact, aim to get away and ideally into a busy public place. Consider buying a mobile phone. It will give you greater confidence and in an emergency.

Consider improving home security measures by asking your local Crime Prevention Officer to look around your property and offer free advice. If you receive malicious or threatening calls, try to keep calm and show no emotion. Do not answer the phone with anything more than "hello". If the stalker continues to ring, answer the phone but place the handset to one side for a few minutes and walk away then replace the handset - you do not have to listen to what the caller has to say.

== Taken from : www.kevincoffey.com ==

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Traveling

Sebuah kata yang memiliki arti yang sangat luas, paling tidak untuk orang-orang yang mencintai dan menikmati traveling itu sendiri. Namun sebaliknya masih ada juga orang yang sama sekali belum mengenal apa itu Traveling. Memang berarti atau tidak nya kata Traveling ini sangat tergantung dari orangnya.

Bagi sebagian masyarakat perkotaan yang setiap hari disibukan dengan segudang jadwal pekerjaan yang membutuhkan energi yang melimpah, sehingga bisa menguras seluruh kekuatan yang dimilikinya. Himpitan pekerjaan yang semakin hari semakin meningkat, tingkat persaingan yang semakin ketat dan juga hiruk pikuknya suasana perkotaan yang mudah menyulut emosi penduduknya.

Traveling yah Traveling menjadi salah satu jalan untuk melepaskan diri dari runyamnya kehidupan sehari-hari, menemukan suasana yang berbeda menjadi cara refreshing yang sangat jitu, dengan melupakan semua kesibukan yang dialami setiap hari, meninggalkan rutinitas yang membelenggu kehidupan.

Traveling bisa membangkitkan kembali semangat hidup, semangat kerja, kesegaran jasmani dan rohani, sehinga dengan Traveling tersebut bisa meningkatkan produktifitas kerja seseorang demikian juga dalm kehidupan berkeluarga akan meningkatkan keharmonisan antar keluarga. dan lebih jauh dari itu semua, Traveling juga bisa menjadi awal dari perubahan cara pandang seseorang mengenai kehidupan. Dengan berkunjung ke suatu tempat yang baru dan melihat kehidupan yang berbeda dari keseharian baik dari prilaku orang-orang yang ada di daerah yang dikunjungi atau dari suasana lingkungan atau alam disekitarnya. maka seorang Traveler akan menemukan hal-hal yang baru yang mungkin belum pernah di temui sebelumnya. Banyak sekali makna dan manfaat yang didapat dari Traveling.

Dengan ditemukannya suatu komunitas yang berbeda dari kehidupan sehari-hari yang biasa dijalani, maka orang bisa mnemukan arti dari perjalanan kehudupan yang dia jalani sebelumnya, sehingga orang tersebut bisa menilai dirinya apakah dia sudah menjalani kehidupan ini dengan benar (tentu saja cara pandang tentang arti kehidupan bagi setiap orang itu berbeda). Dan bagi seorang pengusaha, dengan Traveling maka dia bisa menemukan suatu peluang usaha yang baru di daerah yang dia kunjungi.

Mungkin banyak orang yang mengerti akan manfaat dari Traveling, seperti yang sudah saya uraikan diatas. Namun tidak semua orang bisa melakukan aktivitas Traveling tersebut, karena aktifitas Traveling memerlukan biaya. Jadi Bersyukurlah bagi anda yang memiliki kelebihan uang, karena anda bisa melakukan Traveling sesuai dengan keinginan anda. Bisa pergi ke tempat-tempat wisata favorit, menginap di Hotel mewah, pergi ke Luar Negri atau berpetualang dengan kapal pesiar mewah. Nah bagi anda yang tidak berkelebihan, anda jangan berkecil hati karena anda pun masih bisa melakukan Traveling sesuai dengan kemampuan anda. Karena Traveling tidak berarti bermewah-mewahan dan berpetualang ke tempat-tempat yang mahal, Tapi dengan anda mengunjugi teman-teman anda, atau saudara-saudara anda di tempat yang berbeda juga sudah termasuk Traveling dan tentu saja akan memiliki makna yang sama apabila anda menikmatinya.

Jadi supaya Traveling itu bisa dinikmati dan mengandung arti bagi orang yang melakukannya, maka Traveling tersebut harus drencanakan terlebih dahulu dan dilakukan sesuai dengan kondisi masing-masing. Jangan pernah anda memaksakan diri untuk melakukan Traveling padahal sebenarnya anda tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk melakukannya. Maka biarkanlah mereka yang mampu menikmati Traveling mereka yang mewah dan mahal dan andapun bisa menikmati Traveling yang menyenangkan walaupun penuh dengan kesederhanaan.

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Borobudur Candi Termegah

Hi… sobat-sobat Travelingzone, minggu lalu Saya sudah memaparkan bagaimana menariknya pariwisata di Kota Gudeg Yogyakarta, mungkin anda telah membaca tulisan saya “Yuk Kita Berkunjung ke Kota Gudeg Yogyakarata”, mudah-mudahan tulisan mengenai Yogyakarta tersebut bisa mengubah pandangan anda tentang Yogyakarta atau mungkin anda sudah membuat rencana untuk berkunjung kesana.

Nah, kali ini saya ingin meberi informasi secara spesific mengenai salah satu obyek wisata yang Cukup terkenal di Yogyakarta, bukan hanya di kenal oleh wisatawan Inodnesia, tetapi sudah dikenal luas di kalangan wisatawan Manca Negara.

Ada yang masih belum pernah mendengar tentang Borobudur….? Saya yakin sebagian besar dari pembaca pernah mendegar cerita atau gambar mengenai Borobudur. Mungkin tulisan ini bisa menambah sedikit pengetahuan anda mengenai Can di terbesar abad ke 9 ini. Candi Borobudur adalah candi Budha yang memiliki 1460 relief dan 504 stupa Budha yang terbuat dari batu. Ribuan bahkan jutaan orang pernah berkunjung ke candi termegah ini dan masih ribuan atau bahkan jutaan orang lagi yang mengharapkan untuk dapat mengunjungi bangunan bersejarah yang termasuk dalam salah satu keajaiban dunia ini. Sangat masuk akal karena dilihat dari nilai sejarah dan bentuk bangunan yang sangat menarik, membuat oang mendambakan untuk bisa datang ke sana.

Candi Borobudur dibangun oleh Raja Samaratungga, beliau adalah salah satu raja kerajaan Mataram Kuno, keturunan Wangsa Syailendra. Menurut catatan di prasasti Kayumwungan, seorang Indonesia bernama Hudaya Kandahjaya menerangkan bahwa Candi Borobudur adalah sebuah tempat ibadah yang selesai dibangun pada tanggal 26 Mei 824, hampir seratus tahun sejak masa awal dibangun. Menurut keterangan Borobudur berarti sebuah gunung yang berteras-teras (budhara), sementara menurut keterangan yang lain Borobudur bisa diartikan biara yang terletak di tempat tinggi.

Arsitektur borobudur sangat menarik perhatian para pengunjung karena berbentuk bangunannya yang berundak terdiri dari 10 tingkat. Dengan tinggi bangunan 42 meter sebelum direnovasi dan setlah dilakukan renovasi tinggi bangunannya menjadi 34,5 meter, karena tingkat paling bawah digunakan sebagai penahan. Enam tingkat paling bawah berbentuk bujur sangkar dan tiga tingkat di atasnya berbentuk lingkaran dan satu tingkat tertinggi yang berupa stupa Budha yang menghadap ke arah barat. Setiap tingkatan melambangkan tahapan kehidupan manusia. Sesuai mahzab Budha Mahayana, setiap orang yang ingin mencapai tingkat sebagai Budha mesti melalui setiap tingkatan kehidupan tersebut.

Bagian dasar Borobudur, disebut Kamadhatu, melambangkan manusia yang masih terikat nafsu. Empat tingkat di atasnya disebut Rupadhatu melambangkan manusia yang telah dapat membebaskan diri dari nafsu namun masih terikat rupa dan bentuk. Pada tingkat tersebut, patung Budha diletakkan terbuka. Sementara, tiga tingkat di atasnya dimana Budha diletakkan di dalam stupa yang berlubang-lubang disebut Arupadhatu, melambangkan manusia yang telah terbebas dari nafsu, rupa, dan bentuk. Bagian paling atas yang disebut Arupa melambangkan nirwana, tempat Budha bersemayam.

Setiap tingkatan memiliki relief-relief indah yang menunjukkan betapa mahir pembuatnya. Relief itu akan terbaca secara runtut bila anda berjalan searah jarum jam (arah kiri dari pintu masuk candi). Pada reliefnya Borobudur bercerita tentang suatu kisah yang sangat melegenda, yaitu Ramayana. Selain itu, terdapat pula relief yang menggambarkan kondisi masyarakat saat itu. Misalnya, relief tentang aktivitas petani yang mencerminkan tentang kemajuan sistem pertanian saat itu dan relief kapal layar merupakan representasi dari kemajuan pelayaran yang waktu itu berpusat di Bergotta (Semarang).

Keseluruhan relief yang ada di candi Borobudur mencerminkan ajaran sang Budha. Karenanya, candi ini dapat dijadikan media edukasi bagi orang-orang yang ingin mempelajari ajaran Budha. YogYES mengajak anda untuk mengelilingi setiap lorong-lorong sempit di Borobudur agar dapat mengerti filosofi agama Budha. Atisha, seorang budhis asal India pada abad ke 10, pernah berkunjung ke candi yang dibangun 3 abad sebelum Angkor Wat di Kamboja dan 4 abad sebelum Katedral Agung di Eropa ini.

Berkat mengunjungi Borobudur dan berbekal naskah ajaran Budha dari Serlingpa (salah satu raja Kerajaan Sriwijaya), Atisha mampu mengembangkan ajaran Budha. Ia menjadi kepala biara Vikramasila dan mengajari orang Tibet tentang cara mempraktekkan Dharma. Enam naskah dari Serlingpa pun diringkas menjadi sebuah inti ajaran disebut "The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment" atau yang lebih dikenal dengan nama Bodhipathapradipa.
Salah satu pertanyaan yang kini belum terjawab tentang Borobudur adalah bagaimana kondisi sekitar candi ketika dibangun dan mengapa

candi itu ditemukan dalam keadaan terkubur. Beberapa mengatakan Borobudur awalnya berdiri dikitari rawa kemudian terpendam karena letusan Merapi. Dasarnya adalah prasasti Kalkutta bertuliskan 'Amawa' berarti lautan susu. Kata itu yang kemudian diartikan sebagai lahar Merapi. Beberapa yang lain mengatakan Borobudur tertimbun lahar dingin Merapi.

Dengan segala kehebatan dan misteri yang ada, wajar bila banyak orang dari segala penjuru dunia memasukkan Borobudur sebagai tempat yang harus dikunjungi dalam hidupnya. Selain menikmati candinya, anda juga bisa berkeliling ke desa-desa sekitar Borobudur, seperti Karanganyar dan Wanurejo untuk melihat aktivitas warga membuat kerajinan. Anda juga bisa pergi ke puncak watu Kendil untuk dapat memandang panorama Borobudur dari atas. Tunggu apa lagi? Tak perlu khawatir gempa 27 Mei 2006, karena Borobudur tidak terkena dampaknya sama sekali

Nah… setelah membaca cerita ini, mungkin anda mulai berfikir untuk berkunjung ke Candi Borobudur....

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Let's Visit "The Gudeg City" Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a city that is famous with the cultural characteristics that are very thick, and until now the kingdom of Yogyakarta is still visible as a kingdom, where life in the kingdom or the environment which is called the Kraton (Palace) with the environment is still a tradition of running the kingdom. And this will be a very unique experience if you visited the Sultan Kraton(Palace) environment.

Not only unique Kraton you can meet in Yogyakarta, but there are many more interesting places that have a very high historical value, for example, you can visit some temples located there, which according to the historical information age is thousands of years and is a holdover kingdom of the kingdom of yore. Among the temples, Borobudur was built in the 9th century by Syailendra dynasty. There is also natural tour with a very stunning panorama of nature and very beautiful view, a majestic majestic Mount Merapi standing there with a very beautiful natural decoration around. You also can find Beach Tourism there. You can enjoy the sounds of waves pounded the shore at Parangtritis Beach which is the very popular Beach in Yogyakarta , it can gave you a new spirit of life.

There is one thing that feel at home, the hospitality of the people there. They are very polite and friendly to the newcomers, if you spend time to go around using a bicycle, pedicab or carriage, you will surely feel warm smile and a sincere greeting in every corner of the city, so you will feel as if you stay at your village.

Art and cultural attractions in the city is very exquisite, this can be found along Malioboro street, which is a very famous street in Yogyakarta. Diverse good which is full of art touch and have it’s own unique display along Malioboro street. You also can enjoy the various of Yogyakarta food which serve by lesehan stalls, plus the entertainment of street musicians who are always ready to satisfy the ear of visitor lesehan stalls.

Yogyakata is a very unique city to visit in Indonesia and it will surely make the traveler feel addicted to coming back to Yogyakarta.

* To be continue next time, with more detail about the interesting places in Yogyakarta

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Bali The Beautiful island of Indonesia

Bali is part of the Indonesian archipelago of 18,500 islands and lies approximately 8°C south of the equator. The overwhelming majority of the inhabitants of Bali are Hindu, (Well in actual fact a mixture of Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism). Embrace the mystique of an enchanting island, Bali, the bewitching beaches, cascading landscapes and willowed hills! The serenity of the place would engulf you, while the rich cultural and religious heritage would inspire you and transcend your mind into a different plain. Immerse in the myriad ways of entertainment in Bali that spice up one's stay in this magical island. There are a whole lot of things to do in Bali, ranging from the viewing of traditional dance and music performances to cinemas in Bali, or embarking on a plethora of sporting activities in Bali. Bali Traveling Guide does not let your expectations down and serves considerable information on all the varieties of entertainment in Bali.

The traditional modes of entertainment in Bali are a celebration of its art and culture - music, the euphony of which reverberates in the air, and dance performances which cast a spell on the tourists. The Music Clubs and Theaters in Bali serve as proper venues to enjoy all these quintessential gems of Balinese culture. The Pasar Senggol in Bali in Grand Hyatt in Bali arranges varieties of dance performances like the monkey dance or the more epicurean dances based on tales of Ramayana. The Taman Werdi Budaya is a huge theater complex with a host of stages where a variety of performances can be enjoyed.
There are some cinema halls and complexes in different locations of Bali. Cinemas in Bali have become quite a popular form of entertainment in Bali. There is a cinema complex in Denpasar, in the west of the main local market. Here special focus is given on Asian cinema from various regions.

Traveling to Bali, the island surrounded by the sea, spearheads a lot of inshore and offshore sporting activities. Ranging from exciting water-sports like snorkeling, scuba diving to golfing, sports of the elites; everything is included within sports in Bali. Those keen to make the full of Entertainment in Bali in Indonesia, should try out these sports in the wonderful locations of the island.

History of Bali
Bali has been inhabited for a long time. Sembiran, a village in northern Bali, was believed to have been home to the people of the Ice Age, proven by the discovery of stone axes and adzes. Further discoveries of more sophisticated stone tools, agricultural techniques and basic pottery at Cekik in Bali's far west, point to the people of the Neolithic era. At Cekik, there is evidence of a settlement together with burial sites of around a hundred people thought to be from the Neolithic through to the Bronze Age. The massive drums of the Bronze Age, together with their stone moulds have been discovered throughout the Indonesian archipelago, including the most famous and largest drum in Southeast Asia, the Moon of Pejeng, nearly two meters wide, now housed in a temple in east Ubud. In East Java and Bali, there has also been a concentration of carved stone sarcophagi, which we can see in the Bali Museum in Denpasar and Purbakala Museum in ejeng.

Bali was busy with trade from as early as 200 BC. The prasasti, or metal inscriptions, Bali's earliest written records from the ninth century AD, show a significant Buddhist and Hindu influence; especially in the statues, bronzes and rock-cut caves around Mount Kawi and Gajah Cave. Balinese society was pretty sophisticated by about 900 AD. Their marriage portrait of the Balinese King Udayana to East Java's Princess Mahendratta is captured in a stone carving in the Pura Korah Tegipan in the Batur area. Their son, Erlangga, born around 991 AD, later succeeded to the throne of the Javanese kingdom and brought Java and Bali together until his death in 1049.

In 1284, Bali was conquered by Kertanegara, the ruler of the Singasari; until the turn of the century, saw Bali under its own rule under the hands of King Bedaulu of Pejeng, east of Ubud. 1343 AD, is an important date in Bali's history. It was then that the whole island was conquered by East Java under the mighty Hindu Majapahit kingdom. This resulted in massive changes in Balinese society, including the introduction of the caste system.

Balinese who did not embrace the changes fled to the isolated and remote mountainous areas and hill areas. Their descendants are known today as Bali Aga or Bali Mula that means the "original Balinese". They still live separately in villages like Tenganan near Dasa Temple and Trunyan on the shores of Batur Lake, and maintain their ancient laws and traditional ways. When Majapahit in East Java fell in 1515, the many small Islamic kingdoms in the island merged into the Islamic Mataram empire, Majapahit's most dedicated Hindu priests, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles and artists fled east to Bali, and flooded the island with Javanese culture and Hindu practices. Considering the huge influence and power of Islam at the time, it is worth pondering why and how Bali still remained strongly Hindu and Buddhist.

Batu Renggong, also known as Dewa Agung, means great god, became king in 1550, and this title became hereditary through the succeeding generations of the kingdom of Gelgel, and later Klungkung, until the twentieth century. Bali reached the pinnacle of its Golden Era under the reign of the Batu Renggong, the great god ruler. Bali's decline started when Batu Renggong's grandson, Di Made Bekung, lost Blambangan, Lombok and Sumbawa. DI Made Bekung's chief minister, Gusti Agung Maruti, eventually rebelled and reigned from 1650 till 1686, when he in turn was killed by DI Made Bekung's son, Dewa Agung Jambe, who then moved the court to Klungkung, and named his new palace the Semarapura, Abode of the God of Love.

Bali Weather
Bali weather remains moderately warm throughout the year receiving ample amounts of rain and sunshine. Days and nights are of uniform length. The mountainous regions of Ubud remains cloudy, beach areas of southern Bali are sunny and ideal for exploring the coral reefs under water.

Bali Accommodation
Bali Travel Guide also gives information about Bali accommodation for the convenience of visiting guests. All kinds of hotels, resorts and tourist lodges are available here within reasonable budget. There are five star resorts facilitated with updated amenities as well as budget accommodations giving homely comfort.

Bali Tourism
The varied topography of the country carved by volcanic eruptions and sea turned it into a tropical paradise. Bali Tourism has flourished considerably in the past years. Stately architecture, scenic splendor and unique cultural heritage attract thousands of tourists every year.

Bali Tourist Attractions
Bali tourist attractions such as the ancient temple of Gunnung Kawi, Pura Besakih, Uluwatu Temple highlight the religious beliefs of Balinese people. Kuta Bay, Gunnung Batur and the capital city of Denpasar are also one of traveling destination.

How to Get There
Bali, one of the provinces of Indonesia, is located between Java and Lombok. Bali is one of the islands known as Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali is perfect for a coastal hangout. The province is spotted with number of lovely sea beaches. Whether you are planning a pleasure trip after a long and hectic urban life to revitalize yourself, this is an ideal place to rest in the serene lap of nature. With its unspoiled nature, tradition, culture and inhabitants the, Bali is an ideal seaport and holiday resort. Information about Bali How to Get There is one of the most important elements a tourist needs to collect before starting his journey in this lovely haven. Getting to Bali or Travel to Bali is not at all inconvenient for tourist.

By Plane: Bali is well connected with rest of the part of the world by air. The tourist can take a flight to the Ngurah Rai international airport or the Denpasar Airport which is located in Denpasar, the capital of Bali. You will get flight from this airport for all the major cities of Indonesia, Asia and Australia.

By Bus: Getting to Bali by bus is a convenient and cheap way of reaching the city. All the areas of the city are easily accessible by bus service. There is Bali Bus Service from Java and Lombok. Bus service is available for airport also.

By Taxi: Travel in Bali in Indonesia is very convenient. One can get around the city by taxi at a slightly higher rate than what the buses charge. Bali Taxi Service are available for transfer from airport.

By Sea: Getting to Bali by Ferry is a convenient and efficient and a fast way of transport. Bali Ferry Service is available from Gilimanuk to Ketapang.
Bali Traveling Guide gives you detailed online information on Transportation in Bali or Bali How to Get There.

Things to Do in Bali
Come and explore the beautiful island of Bali in Indonesia shrouded in profound mystery and enigma and dotted with eternally enchanting panoramic landscapes and maiden forests. It is the dream holiday destination for one and all, whether they love the sea or the mountains, tranquil surroundings or stirring nightclubs. It is the ideal place for honeymooners to stay, especially if they want to make lifetime memories of their romance in the quaint seaside resorts of Bali. At Bali, you can try a variety of Things to Do in Bali. There is a fantabulous choice of Things to Do in Bali pertaining to diverse penchants of the multifarious visitors who come here. Keep reading to know more about the Things to Do in Bali.

Whether you want to go for Shopping in Bali or to enjoy the Nightlife in Bali and other forms of Entertainment in Bali, the options are limitless. For fine dining experience you do not need to ponder much about What / Where to Eat in Bali as there are a number of restaurants in Bali.
In Bali, Things To Do range from adventure activities to leisure and recreation activities and sightseeing. Some popular Tourist Activities in Bali in Indonesia include taking cooking lessons, paragliding, playing golf, visiting places of interest, playing tennis, rafting, surfing, AquaMarine Diving, going on Sea Safari Cruises, fishing and so on.

Those who are more inclined towards arts and crafts of a place can enjoy traditional Balinese dance and music. While shopping, do not miss an eye-catching array of paintings, sculptures, artifacts and batik to 5take back home. Bali Travel Guide offers you all the information you need to make the most of your trip to Bali.

===Taken from Asia Rooms===

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