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SUKHOTHAI, The Glory of the Past
Each of the Buddha’s long, tapered fingers is the size of a man. They rest on his gigantic right knee, close to the temple floor, while his other hand lies upturned on his lap. His face is beatific, his ear lobes dangling almost to his chin. Two Thai visitors enter the walled shrine and kneel before the vast deity. One lights the end of an incense stick and bends low to the ground in prayer. The other places a small square of gold leaf on the Buddha’s index finger, glittering in the late afternoon sunlight. The great fingertip is now almost entirely covered in gold, thanks to legions of pilgrims who have visited this place: the ancient temple site of Wat Si Chum, in the ruined city of Sukhothai.
The site is now a green swathe of national park, set amid the paddy fields, stilt houses and lotus-filled lakes of central Thailand. But the 200-odd ruined temples and statues that are scattered here testify to its former glories. From the 13th to the 15th centuries, Sukhothai was the capital city of what was then known as the Kingdom of Siam – and the cultural, architectural and educational achievements made during that short period continue to resonate today.
Photo: bbc.co.uk
Luxury hotels in San Juan
Founded in 1521 by Ponce de León, the capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan, is the oldest city on US territory. The metropolitan area of San Juan is home to half of the island's almost four million citizens; it is also the heart of Puerto Rican tourism. The city is best known for its beautifully restored historic district, Old San Juan, situated on a rocky peninsula girded by twenty-feet thick walls jutting into the crashing Atlantic surf. Unlike other such gems of Spanish colonial architecture, San Juan also offers miles of smooth, clean beaches, a wide range of accommodation, fabulous restaurants and a lively nightlife.
Excellent day-trips can be made to some of the island's top attractions: east to El Yunque rainforest and famous Luquillo Beach; or west to the Río Camuy Cave Park and the striking Arecibo Observatory in the karst country.
No passport required for U.S. citizens traveling to Puerto Rico.
Caribe Hilton, San Juan Antiguo
One Los Rosales St, San Juan Antiguo, PR 00901 | 787-721-0303
The Caribe Hilton hotel, one of the most luxurious hotels in Puerto
Rico, is set on an exclusive peninsula, surrounded by 17 acres of lush
tropical gardens. This ideally situated property is between historic Old
San Juan and the exciting Condado area, offering a secluded beach,
lavish accommodations, and amenities. The hotel is just a 15-minute
drive from Luis Munoz Marin Airport and five minutes from San Juan's
Convention Center. It features beautiful oceanfront swimming pools,
whirlpools, next to the secluded beach for relaxation and privacy. The
full-service Olas Spa and Health
Numero 1 Guest House, San Juan
1 Santa Ana Steet, San Juan, PR 00911 | 787-726-5010
This small hotel is located at the borderline between Condado and Isla
Verde, the upscale neighborhood of Ocean Park. Número Uno is a
gay-friendly establishment. Its furnishings are unpretentious but
comfortable and rooms are noticeably clean. The Condado Beach and ohter
attractions are a short walk away. It was said that the Ocean Park/Punta
Las Marías Beach area was unsafe at nights, but recent improvements in
surveillance have made this area very secure.
InterContinental San Juan Resort Spa and Casino, Carolina
5961 Avenida Isla Verde, Carolina, PR 00979 | 787-791-6100
The InterContinental San Juan Resort Spa and Casino is situated on two
miles of white sand beach on Isla Verde, approximately eight miles from
downtown San Juan, and two miles from Luis Munoz Marin International
Airport. Local attractions include Historic Old San Juan, El Yunque Rain
Forest, and Plaza Las Americas Shopping Mall. Hotel amenities include
concierge, Planet Trekkers Kids Club, Avis rental car desk, ATM, beauty
salon, currency exchange, laundry/valet service, gift shop, ice machine,
babysitting, newsstand, safe deposit box, 24-hour room service,
business center, shoeshine, fax/photocopy service, limousine services,
and parking (fee). Guests may also enjoy the fitness center, whirlpool,
and outdoor pool. On-site drink and dining options include Alfredo
Restaurant, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Momoyama, Splash Pool Bar, Ciao
Mediterranean Restaurant, I Bar, and Casino Bar.
San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino, San Juan
1309 Ashford Ave, San Juan, PR 00907 | 787-722-7000
This 4-diamond luxury Puerto Rico resort offers numerous activities and
entertainment options to make a visit to this San Juan hotel as exciting
or relaxing as desired. Slumber under a beachfront palm or beside the
pool, complete with water slide and whirlpool. Soak in the atmosphere of
the on-site casino, one of the best at any San Juan hotel or take in a
meeting with an ocean view. Enjoy your favorite cocktail at the newly
renovated Red Coral Lounge. The resort??s new Great Room incorporates
designs from the island??s top local artists and sculptors, allowing the
metropolitan space to combine a fresh, modern feel with Puerto Rico??s
rich, local culture. The convenient Condado Beach location also means
being in a prime location to visit many Puerto Rican attractions, from
the Bacardi Rum distillery, to the fortifications of El Morro and San
Cristobal, to the natural beauty of El Yunque rainforest.
El San Juan Hotel & Casino Hilton, Carolina
6063 Avenida Isla Verde, Carolina, PR 00979 | 787-791-1000
Puerto Rico's pulse beats long into the night at the El San Juan Hotel
and Casino - Waldorf Astoria Collection, located in the city's
fashionable Isla Verde district. Nestled on the island's most beautiful
beach and surrounded by 15 lush acres of landscaped grounds, this
luxurious San Juan Puerto / Rico hotel perfectly blends tropical
splendor, old world elegance, and vibrant cultural attractions and
landmarks.These newly renovated oversized guestrooms are located in the
main tower building and offer colorful city vistas. Accommodations
feature air conditioning, wireless Internet, LCD TV with cable TV and
movie channels , iHome station, alarm clock, fully-stocked honor bar,
in-room safe, and ironing sets. All rooms are non smoking.
Le Consulat, an Ascend Collection hotel, Santurce
1149 Magdalena Ave, Santurce, PR 00907 | 787-289-9191
"Le Consulat, an Ascend Collection hotel is located 5 minutes from the
Condado Beach and an 8 minute taxi drive from historical old San Juan.
If you feel like shopping, you will have plenty of choices, from
high-end boutiques like Cartier, Gucci and Christian Dior to local
merchant crafts and souvenirs. There is no parking on-site but there is
available parking nearby for a charge. There is no parking on-site but
there is available parking nearby for a charge. Operational Charge: 3.00
USD per day."
Hotel El Convento, San Juan Antiguo
100 Cristo St, San Juan Antiguo, PR 00901 | 787-723-9020
Originally a Carmelite convent built over three centuries ago, Hotel El
Convento is now a boutique-style hotel located in the heart of Old San
Juan and approximately eight miles from San Juan Airport. The hotel is
within walking distance of bars, restaurants, and the Old San Juan
attractions. It's about a 10-minute drive to the nearest beach.Hotel
amenities include the library, fitness room, massage therapists, plunge
pool, Jacuzzi, and rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Old San Juan.
The Garden Terrace, overlooking the Plaza de las Monjas and historic
San Juan Cathedral, offers breakfast and afternoon cocktails and hors
d'oeuvres.
La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort, Santurce
1077 Ashford Ave, Santurce, PR 00907 | 787-721-8500
Enter the world of La Concha, A Renaissance Resort. Hip and cool, retro
and chic, stylish and sophisticated, this is the quintessential San Juan
beach hotel, and the place to be at. Selected as one of the Top 21
Hottest Caribbean Escapes in 2009 by The Travel Channel, recognized as
one of Architectural Digest??s 2009 Top Ten and chosen in 2008 by Conde
Nast Traveler as Puerto Rico's hottest luxury hotel destination. La
Concha Beach Resort is situated on a breathtaking, sun splashed corner
of prime Caribbean beachfront in Condado, San Juans most elegant
district. Fifteen minutes or less from Old San Juan and close to the
most popular tourist destinations and the financial center, La Concha
Resort is not only conveniently located, but also has everything the
business and leisure traveler could possibly desire within the hotel
itself.
Source: travel.nytimes.com
10 Most Popular Islands in the World
Belize's largest island, Ambergris Caye, a popular destination for scuba divers, has come top of a list of the world's 10 best islands in a survey of travellers.
The western Caribbean nation, which has the second largest coral reef in the world after Australia's Great Barrier Reef, beat another Caribbean destination – St John, in the US Virgin Islands
3 Bora Bora - French Polynesia
Third place went to Bora Bora, in French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, which is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef, and is popular for its overwater bungalows.
TripAdvisor list, source: gardian.co.uk
Puerto Rico: Exclusive Haven
Puerto Rico
The ease of traveling to Puerto Rico from the mainland United States (no passport or foreign currency) has made the island more a mainstream getaway than an exclusive haven. But a string of new resorts, some with a nod to the island’s storied past in tourism, have opened in and around San Juan. The Condado Vanderbilt, a stately 1919-vintage hotel on the oceanfront in San Juan that had been closed since 1993, opened an upscale restaurant called 1919 in October. Its 323 rooms, spread between the historic building and two new towers, are expected to open by this summer. About 20 miles west of town, the Ritz-Carlton’s new Dorado Beach opened last month with 115 rooms all facing the ocean, 11 miles of walking and biking trails, a spa with treehouse massage pavilions and a restaurant from the chef José Andrés. The hotel occupies the footprint of a hotel of the same name that was owned by a Rockefeller. Another resort that evokes the spirit of an earlier era is the 426-acre golf club Royal Isabela, which just opened 20 one-bedroom casitas, each with a private pool, offering nonmembers access to its restaurant and cliff-top golf.
Most exclusive private island in the world
Mustique -Since the 1960s, this tiny island (roughly the size of Hyde Park) has been somewhere that the English aristocracy, the rich and the famous, withdrew to. Bryan Adams, Mick Jagger and David Bowie all have houses here. Although it may have the reputation for being a celebrity magnet, its visitors are drawn by the privacy it affords, rather than the glitz. Staying on this verdant island, it's easy to think that you've found an idyll. The dinky airport runway closes at sunset because there are no lights, and the stunning beaches are completely undeveloped. Basil's apart, the only restaurants and bars are those at Cotton House hotel and Firefly, a four-room guesthouse. To feel like a real jetsetter, stay in one of legendary set designer Oliver Messel's villas, which are now available for rent.
Where to stay
Cotton House, a former sugar mill and the tiny island's soul, also embraces a rustic-lure lifestyle. The Great Room, the meet-and-mingle hub of the hotel, has old-world colonial charm, with seashell-adorned dressers and the constant whirring of overhead fans. The sense of unspoiled space extends from the lofty Veranda restaurant to the expansive Macaroni Beach. The hotel’s secluded, romantic setting and fabulous spa make it a hit with couples, though families are just as welcome, and special excursions, such a treasure hunts, soccer matches and nature trails, can be organized for children.
Beaches
Macaroni Beach
Located at the east side of the island, Macaroni Beach is Mustique's most famous beach and is a good place for swimming and snorkeling. There are also picnic huts and it is easy to park at.
Endeavour Bay
This beach is good for swimming and snorkeling and has calm, azure waters. Lunch can be enjoyed at the beach café overlooking the bay.
Lagoon
Located on the quieter Caribbean sea, this beach is good for swimming and snorkeling and has picnic huts.
Pasture Bay
There are picnic huts, but this beach is unsuitable for swimming.
How to get there
The easiest way to reach Mustique is via private jet, naturally. For regular folk, there are no direct flights from the United States. Most people fly first to Barbados, served out of the United States by American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, and Air Jamaica.
The international flights tend to arrive in Barbados during mid-afternoon. It is important to check times to allow sufficient time for the connection by air. Mustique’s runway has no lights and flights have to leave Barbados latest 16h30 in order to arrive on the island prior to sunset, after which time the airport closes.
When to go
The hurricane season lasts from June until November, after which time the island remains relatively dry and pleasantly warm until May.
Favourite Destination of Vintage Wine Lovers
Rajacke pimnice represent a unique architectural complex of wine cellars in the vine-growing region of Negotin, eastern Serbia. According to records dating from the early 19th century, they form an important part of the Serbian cultural heritage and are also among candidates for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Pimnice are settlements of wine cellars in the Negotinska krajina region and are a favourite destination of vintage wine lovers and connoisseurs in Serbia. Vines have been grown there since Roman times and in medieval times some of the households had as many as 100,000 vines. In the early 20th century, wines from this region won medals at exhibitions in London and Paris. Today, the vineyards span some 1,000 hectares. According to wine manufacturers from this region, their wine is not inebriating, but it stimulates clear thinking, eloquence and talent for music. The wines produced here include bagrina, zacinak, prokupac, vranac and smederevka.
Photo: jugosvaba, OC
Botswana: Very best part of Africa
Botswana is an African success story. After achieving democratic rule in 1966, three of the world’s richest diamond-bearing formations were discovered within its borders. Today, the country enjoys a high standard of economic stability, education and health care, which, with the exception of South Africa, is unequalled elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa. However, its modern veneer belies the fact that much of it remains a country for the intrepid (not to mention relatively wealthy) traveller. This largely roadless wilderness of vast spaces requires time, effort and, above all else, lots of cash to enjoy it to its fullest.
Botswana - activities
View The Spectacular Moremi Gorge
Situated east of the village of Palapye in the scenic Tswapong Hills,
Moremi Gorge is a spectacular
area to visit. Explore the rich
historical, archaeological and biological interests in the Tswapong
Hills
and view the spectacular Moremi Gorge which supports a variety of
fauna and flora. The splendid
perennial streams and ponds have cut deep
gorges in the hills and cliffs making it the perfect
breeding grounds
for the endangered Cape vulture.
View The World's Largest Salt Pan At Makgadikgadi
A timeless land of enduring elegance and contrasting scenery awaits
adventurous travelers to the
Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, one of the largest
in the world of its kind. The Makgadikgadi Lake is
a legendary ancient
lake that dried up 10 000 years ago. In the dry season, be awed by a
timeless
landscape filled to the brim with nothingness … Explore this
land by 4x4 or go on a 4x4 quad
bike adventure into the salt pans,
exploring Iron Age sites where bushmen once made this
unforgiving
environment their home.
Enjoy Horseback Riding Safaris Through The Delta
Botswana is a land of immense natural beauty with diverse terrain and
landscapes of which
the Okavango Delta is undoubtedly living proof of.
The Okavango Delta is a lush emerald
paradise of papyrus and reed beds, a
maze of channels and floodplains, rich savannah grasslands,
a montage
of water-lily filled lagoons and palm islands transcending the rules of
Mother Nature by
lying in the heart of the arid Kalahari Desert Basin.
African safari Botswana
Gaborone perhaps is the capital and greatest city of Botswana, but in terms of tourism there really isn’t a lot to do here. If you’re in the capital city for business purposes there are a few attractions if you have an afternoon or a day free, but otherwise, as a tourist you would probably choose to go somewhere else!
African safari Botswana is renowned for its wildlife, and even close to Gaborone you can experience this. The Gaborone Game Reserve for example, is a chance to spot zebras, wart hogs, wild boars, monkeys and many birds and the advantage is that if you have a car you’re free to move around the reserve un-guided.
Another alternative is Mokolodi, which has a broader range of wildlife like giraffes, elephants, hippos and more, and you can also pet a cheetah here!
Botswana Safari Lodges and Camps
If wildlife viewing is top of your agenda, you’ll desire to stay in a safari lodge or camp. The greater number is found in the prime game areas of the Okavango Delta hotels (including Moremi Game Reserve), Chobe National Park and Kwando-Linyanti. There are also some lodges in the Makgadikgadi Pans and Tuli Block. Some lodges like built structures but the majority of places are luxury camps made up of private tents with ensuite facilities, and a common dining and gathering area. Approximately all camps and lodges are really comfortable, large and expensive, with outstanding catering and activities (typically game drives, guided walks and trips in wooden canoes known locally as mekoros) put together as standard. Most are in inaccessible areas; guests reach the place by charter plane, then by an off-road journey of up to an hour or two, which may double as a game drive.
When to go
Summer lasts from November to the end of March and brings high temperatures, rain and clouds. The winter season, which is dry, lasts from May to August and brings sunny and cool or warm days. Spring and autumn is dry, but with warmer nights than during winter and colder days than during summer. April to October is the best time to go, as the weather is stable and there will be plenty of animals to be seen on your safaris.
How to get there
The easiest route into Botswana is via Johannesburg International Airport, from where Air Botswana and South African Airways fly to Gaborone, with connections to and from Durban and Cape Town.
AIRLINES FROM THE UK TO SOUTH AFRICA
British Airways (0870 850 9850;)
South African Airways (0870 747 1111;)
The U.S. Embassy Gaborone is located on Embassy Drive in the Government Enclave.
Mailing address: P.O. Box 90, Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone: 267 395-3982
After-hours Emergency Telephone: 267 395-7111
Fax 267 318-0232
Photo: botswanatourism.co.bw
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