August 1, 2008
The world’s first sand castle hotel has recently opened at weymouth beach in the seaside town of dorset in the UK. The hotel was constructed from approximately 1000 tonnes of sand, built over 15sqm reaching a height of 4m. The open air family room with a sea-side view has a double and single bed made of sand which will set you back a mere $21 (£10) a night to sleep under the starry skies.
August 1, 2008
year 2007
|
Rank |
2006 |
Name |
|
1 |
1 |
Bali, Indonesia |
|
2 |
3 |
Maui |
|
3 |
2 |
Kauai |
|
4 |
8 |
Galápagos Islands |
|
5 |
9 |
Santorini |
|
6 |
n/a |
Vancouver Island |
|
7 |
n/a |
Dalmatian Islands, Croatia |
|
8 |
10 |
Phuket, Thailand |
|
9 |
7 |
Hawaii |
|
10 |
n/a |
Great Barrier Reef islands |
August 1, 2008
Kruger National Park
Singita Kruger National Park is situated where two rivers meet, in an exclusive game-rich 15 000 hectares concession in the world-renowned Kruger National Park.Singita Lebombo Lodge has been designed around the theme of a luxury eagle’s nest with 15 loft-style suites perched high above the Nwanetsi River.Nestled low on the Sweni River, the more intimate Singita Sweni Lodge boasts six exclusive suites on the water’s edge.
Lebombo Lodge
Sweni Lodge
source-singita
more-baroquetours \vacationidea \eyesonafrica
August 1, 2008
|
Rank |
2006 |
Name/web site |
|
1 |
3 |
Oberoi udaivilas, Udaipur, India /oberoiudaivilas |
|
2 |
1 |
Singita sabi sand, krugernational park, South Africa/singita sabi sand |
|
3 |
9 |
The Oriental, Bangkok /Mandarinoriental |
|
4 |
48 |
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul , Sultanahmet/Fourseasons |
|
5 |
n/a |
Milestone Hotel, London/ milestone hotel |
|
6 |
n/a |
Relais Il Falconiere, Cortona, Italy/Ilfalconiere |
|
7 |
97 |
Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sands, South Africa/ Sabisabi |
|
8 |
n/a |
Mandarin Oriental, Munich/ Mandarinoriental
|
|
9 |
12 |
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii /Fourseasons |
|
10 |
54 |
Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, India /amarvilas |
July 31, 2008
Singita Game Reserves-About-singita
Singita (‘place of miracles’) is world-renowned for providing ‘the best safari experience in Africa’ and has notched up virtually every hotel and travel award since its inception in the mid-90s.
South Africa
There are five lodges in two equally special parts of South Africa, both famous for their exquisite beauty and abundance of the ‘Big 5’. The founding lodges, Singita Ebony and Boulders Lodges and Castleton Camp are located within the Sabi Sand Reserve – the world’s best leopard viewing area. Singita Lebombo and Singita Sweni Lodges are found along the far eastern reaches of the Kruger National Park – a remote wilderness area known for its concentration of lions.
Singita Sabi Sand offers rare solitude and the ultimate in safari luxury on 18 000 hectares of prime game viewing land.Ebony and Boulders, overlooking the Sand River, offer lavish surroundings that have earned Singita the highest international accolades.
Ebony Lodge
Boulders Lodge
Castleton Camp
Kruger National Park
Singita Kruger National Park is situated where two rivers meet, in an exclusive game-rich 15 000 hectares concession in the world-renowned Kruger National Park.Singita Lebombo Lodge has been designed around the theme of a luxury eagle’s nest with 15 loft-style suites perched high above the Nwanetsi River.Nestled low on the Sweni River, the more intimate Singita Sweni Lodge boasts six exclusive suites on the water’s edge.
Lebombo Lodge
Sweni Lodge
source-singita
more-baroquetours \vacationidea \eyesonafrica
July 22, 2008
Arugam Bay was awarded the Highly Commended Best Destination award at the World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards Ceremony at Excel in Docklands, London on 14th November 14, 2007. Out of the thousands of nominations received, Costa Rica and New Forest were the other two nominees.
Arugam Bay is classed among the top ten surfing destinations in the world. The village itself is a delightful experience. There are no big hotels. The community has developed tourism by dint of their own hard work and imagination.Three star establishments rub shoulders with low-key stilt cabins and coconut palm leaf cabanas, and tourists share the beach with local fishermen.The wild and rugged scenery, elephants meandering at the edge of the village, abundant birdlife, and mysterious archaeological sites have made this a long-time favourite destination for travellers.The three ethnic groups – Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, work and live in harmony. The population of 3,000 families is made up mostly of small family managed hotels/guest houses and restaurants.
Links- travel-best-destinations \bugbog\lonelyplanet\nationalgeographic
\travelandleisure\infoplease\pangkorlautresort
July 17, 2008
The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is an elapid snake. It is the largest venomous snake in Africa and the second longest venomous snake in the world. Only the King Cobra is longer.The deadly black mamba of eastern Africa can cruise at a speed up to 7 miles per hour(11.27 kilometers per hour) in short bursts. That’s fast enough to catch up to a human on foot.
Black Mamba Profile
Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamedfor numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions .For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake .Black mambas live in the savannas and rocky hills of southern and eastern Africa.They are Africa’s longest venomous snake, reaching up to 14 feet (4.5 meters) in length, although 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) is more the average. They are also among the fastest snakes in the world, slithering at speeds of up to 12.5 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour).They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-black color of the inside of their mouth, which they display when threatened.Black mambas are shy and will almost always seek to escape when confronted.
However, when cornered, these snakes will raise their heads, sometimes with a third of their body off the ground, spread their cobra-like neck-flap, open their black mouths and hiss.If an attacker persists, the mamba will strike not once, but repeatedly, injecting large amounts of potent neuro- and cardiotoxin with each strike.
Before the advent of black mamba antivenin, a bite from this fearsome serpent was 100 percent fatal, usually within about 20 minutes.Unfortunately, antivenin is still not widely available in the rural parts of the mamba’s range, and mamba-related deaths remain frequent
.Breeding usually takes place in late spring or early summer. After mating the male will return to its own home. The female will then lay between 10 and 25 eggs. The offspring are independent as soon as they are born .Breeding takes place when the two mambas twist their bodies together and can last for days. Females wait approximately 55 days before laying eggs. Female offspring are not bigger than male offspring.
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