Seabourn Pride and Legend to Spend More Time in Southeast Asia in 2012

The latest news from Seabourn is that it has tinkered with the first quarter 2012 schedules of two of its yachts—Pride and Legend—in order to offer more Southeast Asian itineraries. The yachts will spend more time in Cambodia and Indonesia.

Having just returned from Indonesia myself, I can tell you that this region is perfect for cruising. Seabourn's intimate yachts visit places most mega cruise ships just can't access. Pamela Conover, Seabourn President and CEO concurs, saying, “Southeast Asia has been a perennial favorite of our guests for many years, because our yachts can take them places that are difficult to visit otherwise.”

These itineraries will afford you the opportunity to explore exotic ports of call without having to worry about flying in on a puddle jumper or arriving by local ferry. If you haven't yet visited this part of Southeast Asia, these new Seabourn itineraries are tough to beat.

The 208-guest Seabourn Pride, which had been scheduled to sail 12-day cruises of Vietnam and Thailand between Hong Kong and Bangkok, will instead sail between Hong Kong and Singapore on five 14-day voyages that will each include a call at the up-and-coming beach resort community of Sihanoukville in Cambodia.

Departure dates are scheduled between January 4 and March 14, 2012. The revised schedule also includes one 14-day voyage departing February 15, 2012, and sailing round trip from Singapore to Penang, Phuket, Langkawi, Port Blair in the Andaman Islands, the Malaysian metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, and more.



Seabourn Legend will start 2012 sailing among the islands of the Indonesian Archipelago, on 10- and 12-day itineraries between Singapore and Bali that include hard-to-reach places such as Komodo, Sumba, Flores, Gili Sudak, and Kura Kura. Five departures are scheduled between January 3 and February 16, 2012.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact the Yachts of Seabourn directly at 1-(800) 929-9391.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Tuesday Tip: Twitter Handles for Cruise Lines & Travel Experts

This holiday season, it pays to follow as many travel twitter pages as possible. These travel websites and travel providers run contests from time to time. In the past year on Twitter I've won items ranging from lightweight luggage to guidebooks to American Airlines Admirals Club lounge passes.

Even when tweeters aren't giving away swag, you're sure to benefit from useful information, links to cruise and resort reviews, and inside access to bonefide travel tips.

Here's a list of the best travel tweeters on Twitter these days.

Cruise Line Twitter Handles

Abercrombie & Kent - @AKTravel_USA
Aqua Expeditions - @AquaExpeditions
Azamara Club Cruises - @AzamaraVoyages
Carnival Cruise Line - @CarnivalCruise
Celebrity Cruises UK - @CelebrityUK
Crystal Cruises - @crystalcruises
Cunard - @cunardline
Disney Cruise Line - @DisneyCruise
Holland America - @HALcruises
Lindblad Expeditions - @LindbladExp
MSC Cruises - @MSCCruisesUSA
Norwegian Cruise Line - @NCLFreestyle
Oceania Cruises - @CruiseOceania
Paul Gauguin Cruises - @PaulGauguin
Princess Cruises - @PrincessCruises
Royal Caribbean - @OasisandAllure
SeaDream Yacht Club - @seadreamyc
Silversea - @silversea
Uniworld - @UniworldCruises
Viking River Cruises - @vikingriver
Windstar Cruises - @cruisewindstar
Yachts of Seabourn - @SeabournCruise

Travel Magazines, Websites, & Newspaper Coverage

About Cruises - @AboutCruises
Afar - @AfarMedia
Avid Cruiser - @AvidCruiser
Cruise Critic - @CruiseCritic
Cruise Diva - @CruiseDiva
Cruise International - @cruisemag
Cruise Passenger - @CruisePax
Islands Magazine - @islandsmagazine
Porthole Cruise Magazine - @PortholeCruise
USA Today's Cruise Log - @CruiseLog

Luxury Travel Experts

Andrew Harper Hideaway Report - @HarperTravel
The Gallivanter's Guide - @Gallivanters

Hotels & Resorts

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts - @FourSeasons
Hilton Hotels & Resorts - @HiltonOnline
Hyatt - @HyattConcierge
InterContinental Hotels Group - @IHG_Deals
Mandarin Oriental - @mo_hotels
Marriott Resorts - @MarriottResorts
Priority Club - @priorityclub
Ritz-Carlton - @RitzCarlton
Starwood Hotels - @StarwoodBuzz

Travel Accessories

First Ascent/Eddie Bauer - @FirstAscent
Magellan's Travel - @magellanstravel
ScotteVest Travel Clothing - @scottevest

Who are your favorite travel tweeters? Post a comment and let me know.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

The Best of 2011: A Luxury Cruise for Each Month of Next Year

With 2011 just a month away, many of us are reviewing our upcoming cruise plans for next year. If I could wrangle an unlimited amount of vacation time—or could figure out how to bring our two Bearded Collies with us on these adventures!—the 12 cruises I'd take are listed below.

They range from island strongholds like the Maldives, Hawaii, Galapagos, and French Polynesia to Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Norway, South Africa, and Alaska.

Which are your must-cruise itineraries for 2011?

12 Fantastic Luxury Cruises for 2011

JANUARY 29, 2011
Paul Gauguin Cruises (m/s Paul Gauguin)
11-Night Cook Islands & Society Islands
Day 1 Papeete, Tahiti
Day 2 Huahine
Day 3 at sea
Day 4 Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Day 5 Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Day 6 at sea
Day 7 Bora Bora
Day 8 Bora Bora
Day 9 Taha'a (Motu Mahana)
Day 10 Moorea
Day 11 Moorea / Papeete, Tahiti
Day 12 Papeete, Tahiti

Why this cruise? We sailed with Paul Gauguin Cruises last May and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. French Polynesia is one of the most beautiful places on earth and Paul Gauguin Cruises has the expertise to show you the hidden gems. We sailed a seven-night itinerary last time around and it wasn't long enough. Next time, I'll go for the eleven-night Cook and Society Islands combo cruise.


FEBRUARY 7, 2011
Four Seasons (Four Seasons Explorer)
7-Night Maldivian Circuit Cruise
This cruise begins on North Male Atoll, Maldives at the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and sails to Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru on Baa Atoll.

Why this cruise? The Maldives, gorgeous coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, are on my bucket list. The Four Seasons has two exquisite properties in the archipelago as well as a luxury yacht, the Four Seasons Explorer.


MARCH 2, 2011
Silversea (Silver Wind)
10-Night Cape Town, South Africa Round-Trip
Day 1 Cape Town, South Africa
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 East London, South Africa
Day 4 at sea
Day 5 Maputo, Mozambique
Day 6 Richards Bay, South Africa
Day 7 Richards Bay, South Africa
Day 8 Durban, South Africa
Day 9 Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Day 10 Mossel Bay, South Africa
Day 11 Cape Town, South Africa

Why this cruise? We love the crew aboard Silversea ships. The butlers, stewards, bartenders, and waitstaff always strike the right balance of attentive yet friendly service. Likewise, the passenger mix makes it easy to find like-minded dinner companions. Finally, this is a fantastic itinerary for anyone who loves South Africa. These are fantastic ports with no shortage of excellent shore excursions on offer.


APRIL 30, 2011
Cunard (Queen Elizabeth)
5-Night Getaway Voyage
Day 1 Southampton, UK
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 4 Zeebrugge, Belgium
Day 5 Le Havre, France
Day 6 Southampton, UK

Why this cruise? This is Cunard's newest ocean liner and, to be honest, we've never sailed with this line. It may turn out to be too formal for our liking, but I think every cruise fanatic should sail with Cunard at least once. This five-night itinerary hits some fun ports like Amsterdam, Netherlands and Zeebrugge, Belgium.


MAY 9, 2011
Crystal Cruises (Crystal Symphony)
12-Night Northern Lights
Day 1 San Francisco
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 Victoria, British Columbia
Day 4 Victoria, British Columbia
Day 5 at sea
Day 6 Sitka, Alaska
Day 7 Juneau, Alaska
Day 8 Skagway, Alaska
Day 9 at sea
Day 10 Ketchikan, Alaska
Day 11 at sea
Day 12 at sea
Day 13 San Francisco

Why this cruise? Alaska is one of our favorite cruise destinations and it's nice to see these ports without sacrificing luxury. Crystal Cruises offers up some of the best dining at sea and that's another thing that makes this itinerary so appealing.


JUNE 18, 2011
Azamara Club Cruises (Azamara Journey)
7-Night Spain and Portugal Cruise
Day 1 Barcelona, Spain
Day 2 Ibiza, Spain
Day 3 Ibiza, Spain
Day 4 Granada (Motril), Spain
Day 5 Gibraltar, UK
Day 6 Seville (Cadiz), Spain
Day 7 Lisbon, Portugal
Day 8 Lisbon, Portugal

Why this cruise? Plain and simple: it's the chance to sail the Strait of Gibraltar.


JULY 29, 2011
Oceania Cruises (Marina)
12-Night Treasures of the Continent
Day 1 London (Dover), UK
Day 2 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 3 Bruges (Zeebrugge), Belgium
Day 4 Paris (Honfleur), France
Day 5 St. Peter Ports (Guernsey), UK
Day 6 Saint-Malo, France
Day 7 Pont-Aven (Concarneau), France
Day 8 Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France
Day 9 Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France
Day 10 Biarritz (Saint-Jean-de-Luz), France
Day 11 Santander, Spain
Day 12 at sea
Day 13 London (Dover), UK

Why this cruise? Oceania Marina makes its debut in January 2011 and the ship will still have that new ship feel for this summertime cruise. The itinerary is spectacular with stops in Saint-Mao and Bordeaux, France.


AUGUST 14, 2011
Yachts of Seabourn (Seabourn Sojourn)
9-Night Norwegian Fjords
Day 1 Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2 at sea
Day 3 Flaam, Norway
Day 4 Aalesund, Norway
Day 5 Olden, Norway
Day 6 Bergen, Norway
Day 7 Stavanger, Norway
Day 8 Oslo, Norway
Day 9 at sea
Day 10 Copenhagen, Denmark

Why this cruise? You've got a trifecta with this one: a terrific Norwegian itinerary, the beautiful Seabourn Sojourn mega-yacht, and an end-of-the-summer embarkation date.


SEPTEMBER 24, 2011
SeaDream Yacht Club (SeaDream II)
7-Night Venice, Italy to Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 1 Venice, Italy
Day 2 Rab, Croatia
Day 3 Split and Hvar, Croatia
Day 4 Hvar, Croatia
Day 5 Korcula, Croatia
Day 6 Kotor, Montenegro
Day 7 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Day 8 Dubrovnik, Croatia

Why this cruise? SeaDream is one of our favorite cruise lines (best gourmet cuisine at sea and super-friendly crew) and we've been wanting to get back to Croatia since we visited Hvar last summer.


OCTOBER 10, 2011
Orion Expeditions (Orion II)
7-Night Gulf of Siam Explorer
Day 1 Singapore
Day 2 Tioman Island, Malaysia
Day 3 Kuala Terrangganu, Malaysia
Day 4 At sea
Day 5 Ko Samui, Thailand
Day 6 Ang Thong Marine Park, Thailand
Day 7 Ko Kut, Thailand
Day 8 Bangkok

Why this cruise? Orion II is new to the line's fleet and recently underwent a major refurbishment. This expedition line combines attentive service with offbeat ports of call. We love Southeast Asia and I can't imagine more compelling destinations than those in Malaysia and Thailand that are visited during Orion's "Gulf of Siam Explorer" cruise.


NOVEMBER 14, 2011
American Safari Cruises (Safari Explorer)
7-Night Hawaiian Seascapes
Day 1 Lahaina, Maui
Day 2 Molokai
Day 3 Molokai
Day 4 Lanai
Day 5 Molokini
Day 6 Ka Lae, Big Island
Day 7 Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Day 8 Kona, Big Island

Why this cruise? American Safari Cruises is an American company with an all-American crew. This small business has always impressed us and I'd sail anywhere with this outfit.


DECEMBER 2, 2011
Lindblad Expeditions (National Geographic Endeavour)
10-Night Galapagos Islands
Day 1 Guayaquil, Ecuador
Day 2 Guayaquil / Galapagos / Baltra
Day 3 Floreana
Day 4 Isabela / Fernandina
Day 5 Santa Cruz
Day 6 Santa Cruz
Day 7 Bartolome / Santiago
Day 8 Espanola
Day 9 Baltra / Guayaquil
Day 10 Guayaquil

Why this cruise? Are you on Lindblad's mailing list? If not, get on it. The cruise catalogs are packed with photos of up-close and personal animal encounters in the Galapagos. I listened in on a recent Lindblad webinar and I hope we can make time for a trip to the Galapagos Islands soon.

Comment on this post and let us know where you're cruising in 2011.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photos © Leonard Hospidor

Win a Cruise - Sweepstakes to Enter

Here's a roundup of a few current sweepstakes in which you can win a cruise vacation.

Cruise Critic's "15th Anniversary" Sweepstakes
Prize: Celebrity Summit 7-night cruise to Bermuda (prize does not include airfare)
Deadline: 11/30/2010

TLC "Voyage to Alaska" Sweepstakes
Prize: 7-day cruise from Vancouver, BC, Canada to Seward, Alaska for the winner and up to three family members
Deadline: 12/10/2010

Viking River Cruises' "Win a Rhine Getaway River Cruise" Sweepstakes
Prize: Rhine River cruise for two with roundtrip coach airfare
Deadline: 12/17/2010

Royal Caribbean's "Your Ticket to Entertainment: Allure of the Seas" Sweepstakes
Prize: Caribbean cruise for two, roundtrip coach airfare, $1,000 spending money, and two onboard Coca-Cola beverage cards
Deadline: 12/31/2010

Holland America "7- to 10-Day Cruise for Two" Sweepstakes
Prize: 7- to 10-day cruise for two aboard a Holland America ship departing in 2011
Deadline: March 31, 2011

Enter them all and then cross your fingers! Good luck!

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Paul Gauguin Black Friday Sale On Until December 10, 2010

Did you snag a cruise travel deal on Black Friday? If not, there's still time to take advantage of the two-week sale from Paul Gauguin Cruises. The company operates the much-beloved m/s Paul Gauguin, which sails French Polynesia year-round.

Sale prices are valid on select 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands itineraries ($3,997 per person) as well as 7-night Tahiti & Society Island cruises ($3,397–$3,647 per person).

The reduced rate is based on the cruise line's previously advertised offer of 50% off standard cruise fares. Additionally, these specials also include free airfare from Los Angeles.

Travel dates are...

March 5, May 14, or June 18, 2011 for the Cook Islands & Society Islands 11-night itinerary
or
April 2, April 9, June 4, or June 11, 2011 for the Tahiti & Society Islands 7-night itinerary.

See our previous Paul Gauguin Cruises coverage, including daily blog posts from a 7-night Tahiti & Society Islands itinerary.

For more information about this sale, talk with your travel agent (I recommend Brown & Keene Travel, who are exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to Paul Gauguin itineraries) or contact PGC directly at 1-(800) 848-6172.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

New Vellore, City of Spears

Vellore (State: TamilNadu) is at a distance 145 kms from Chennai in one direction and in another direction 215 kms from Bangalore. We started from Bangalore in the morning and reached this place in the early afternoon. The city has prominent colleges, ancient temples and one of the best hospitals in India (Christian Medical College & Hospital). (Click on the images for bigger view)

The name 'Vellore' in local language means 'City of Spears'. Ancient history shows that, this place was basically a battle field and it was always left with the abandoned weapons like spears throughout the year. It was the seat of power for various dynasties like the Pallavas, Cholas, Nayak, Marathas. The major tourist attractions here are:

New India Gate and Rajpath

Situated along the ceremonial Rajpath avenue in New Delhi, India Gate is a memorial raised in honour of the Indian soldiers who died during the Afghan wars and World War I. The names of the soldiers who died in these wars are inscribed on the walls. The cenotaph (or shrine) in the middle is constructed with black marble and depicts a rifle placed on its barrel, crested by a soldier's helmet. Each face of the cenotaph has inscribed in gold the words Amar Jawan (in Hindi, meaning Immortal Warrior). The green lawns at India Gate are a popular evening and holiday rendezvous for young and old alike.

Delhi Tourist Attractions

Modern Delhi centres around the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is architecturally a very impressive building standing at a height, flowing down as it were to India Gate. This stretch called the Rajpath is where the Republic Day parade is held. The imposing plan of this area conceived by Lutyens does not fade in its charm with the numerous summers or winters that go past.

Rashtrapati Bhavan was originally built for the Governor General of India. Inaugurated in 1931 as the Viceregal Lodge, the name was changed in 1959 after India became a republic. Now it is the Presidential Palace of India.

Thanksgiving Day Menu Aboard SeaDream I and II

Being foodies ourselves, we really appreciate cruise lines that pay attention to every detail of a menu—whether it's a hearty breakfast platter, grill lunch, or seven-course holiday meal.

My husband and I both agree that the best gourmet cuisine at sea can be found aboard SeaDream Yacht Club's two mega-yachts: SeaDream I and SeaDream II.

This is an entree we enjoyed aboard SeaDream II on our cruise in January 2010.

The line's executive chef Sudesh Kishore takes holiday menus seriously and recently shared highlights of what guests will be served today on Thanksgiving with SeaDream I in Nevis and SeaDream II in St. Barts.

SeaDream's Thanksgiving Menu

• Starter: homemade terrine de foie gras with pear compote, black truffle dressing, and toasted brioche
  
  
• Soup: creamy lobster bisque infused with cognac or a cream of pumpkin soup
  
  
• Entree: slow-roasted turkey with stuffing, gravy, cranberry-orange relish, asparagus, and mashed potatoes
  
  
• Alternative main dishes: Dover sole meuniere or grilled jumbo tiger prawns "Caribbean style"
  
  
• Desserts: apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pear and chocolate strudel with vanilla rum sauce, and homemade ice cream and sorbet

Yum! Here's to a happy holiday, everyone!

For more information about SeaDream Yacht Club, talk with your travel agent or contact the cruise line directly at 1-(800) 707-4911.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Photo © Leonard Hospidor

Take a Holidays Tour to Beautiful Villages

Santorini Beaches

Santorini, officially known as the "Pyramid" is one of the most famous Cycladic islands and is located in the beautiful Aegean Sea about 200 km southeast of Athens, Greece. Santorini is a small island with an area of 76 square kilometers and a population of about 8,500 to 10,000 residents. Her coast about 70 km long. Santorini length reaches 18 km. The extent of 2-6 km range. There are many things to visit and experience in Santorini. Among all the other tourist destinations, Santorini Villages is more remarkable and unforgettable experience for the people who put your whole life.

Santorini is a beautiful village and the heart of the most popular because of their unique characteristics and differentiated appearance. Whitewashed houses with blue windows and doors, blue domed churches, extraordinary scenery, sunsets wild volcanic cliffs, historic monuments, blue sea, beautiful beaches and pleasant climate conditions of the several reasons which Santorini is known as the most popular destination for holidays and festivals around the world.

The villages of Santorini Island is considered the most beautiful villages in Greece. Approximately eighteen villages communicated well developed for tourists. In between each IRA, OIA and Kamari three villages which are the most popular tourist is always full.

Grease - the Capital of Santorini

Ira town is the capital of Santorini island, which stuck close to the cliff at an altitude of 260 meters, and offers a pictorial representation of the largest underwater volcano. Ira is located 10 km from the port Athinios. This is regarded as one of the most beautiful and developed among all villages with about 2000 permanent residents.

Oil settlement extends from the explosion of tourism. Along with Firostefani and Imerovigli, the fat forms a large village on the cliff, offers many places to stay, drink, eat and enjoy the scenery. Oil roads will be filled with jewelry shops and wonderful life, shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Maybe you feel calm and very small church and the Museum of Archaeology. Ira tourist destination for both tourists and cruise ship port to most.

OIA Santorini Villages

OIA is the most beautiful villages and a beautiful view of Santorini, located about 11 km from the IRA. Because it depends from the top of the cliff on the north side of the island was interesting, can offer a view of sunset, where the sun sank in the sea.

OIA beautiful and traditional village houses are equipped with an attractive, blue domed churches and sun porch to enjoy. Its narrow streets have lots of tourist shops, pubs, cafes, and more. He has attracted visitors and artists to sit in an art gallery, stunning scenery and restaurants with delicious and elegant shopping. Can visit the Maritime Museum with a small library and exhibition of marine life in this area. By bringing down the 300 stairs to the harbor and beaches OIA Ammoudi Armenis you can also take a boat to Thirasia.

Maldives Resorts Idea

Luxury Maldives Resorts

Maldives resorts are different from other resorts all over the world. Resorts in Maldives are truly magical because in addition to excellent accommodation.
These resorts also feature swimming pools, coffee shops, restaurants, bars, Bungalow on stilts, Gyms, Water sports, badminton and football grounds, water skiing, snorkeling and spas.

Exotic Accommodation in Resorts

Maldives resorts provide wonderful accommodation facilities for the guests. These resorts are usually set on the beachfront and are full of space and light. The resorts provide a wide selection of luxury, business, tourist, budget and apartment accommodation.
The resorts in the Maldives are blessed with courtyards, which have fountains and secluded corners where you can wine and dine peacefully.
Surrounded by tropical gardens, the villas offer oceanfront living with the gentle caress of the sea winds on your face and seawater on your doorsteps. The spacious interiors of the rooms produce an elegant blend of luxury and natural harmony in a contemporary Maldivian style.

Wonderful Activities in Resorts
Resorts in Maldives offer an array of activities in their own swimming pools and private lounges. The activities include beach volley, fishing, snorkeling, water skiing, catamaran sailing, parasailing, scuba diving, canoeing, wind surfing, tennis, soccer and island hopping. Another exhilarating sport includes kite-boarding, which makes your heart beat faster as you surf through spacious lagoons and through waist deep water.

Exquisite Spas in Resorts
The Maldives resorts have spas, which offer a series of rejuvenating and holistic treatments to provide calm of mind and body. In the sensuous spa environments, your senses are soothed and tired nerves are calmed. There are many ways to rejuvenate your inner and outer self here, ranging from refreshing effects of aromatherapy to heavenly massages amidst sweet floral scents.

Bali Nusa Penida Dive Site, Dive spots In Bali Indonesia

Blue Corner Point

The site offers a sloping reef with terrace at 20 to 30m. The current here is usually stronger than at other places (it may reach 3 to 4 knots). Consider it as one of the best places to see Sun Fish. The marine life is similar to SD Point but not as rich.
Toyapakeh Point
This is a very nice spot as it is protected from swell and current. Although the current is sometimes strong, usually it is negotiable. Many Blue trigger fishes at some point and near the Pontoon, there are usually many Giant Trevally. The shallow area is excellent for snorkeling. Some encounters with big pelagic is common.

Dive Site in Nusa Penida Bali

SD Point
With a strong current flow in the area, generally there are many Anthias around, sometimes big fishes like Giant Trevally, Sharks and if you are lucky, the Sun Fish (the season for sun fish is between July to September). The dive site is stretched over kilometers, along the north coast of Penida Island .
Sampalan Point
The site is located on the north side of Lembongan, the marine life is similar to SD Point with some high lights of underwater structure that is quite different. Some sloping is full of soft coral with reef fish hover to get some nutrient from the rich water.

Nusa Penida is the largest of 3 islands (the others being Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan). The water here is fairly cold (because of the ocean currents) but often startlingly clear, with gorgeous corals and prolific fish, with some turtle, shark (including grey reefs and silver-tips) and – Aug-Sep – Mola-Mola (the weird and wonderful Sunfish).

Bali Nusa Penida Dive Site, Dive spots In Bali Indonesia

New Bahamas Vacation at Pink Sands Resort

Pink Sands Resort is located on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, 50 miles east of Nassau. The resort is 20 minutes away from the North Eleuthera International Airport by car and water taxi. North Eleuthera International Airport is serviced from Nassau and other gateways by both scheduled and charter service.

Pink Sands Resort on Harbour Island is a Bahamas vacation getaway, 50 miles east of Nassau. This 18-acre celebrity hideaway offers a combination of luxury, privacy and natural beauty. Harbour Island's sandy beach, sheltered by a barrier reef, is made up of red coral mixed with white sand, giving it a pink tone.

The island is only 3.5 miles long and half a mile wide with a resident population of just 2,000. Many of the buildings on the island date from the early 19th century. The best way to get around the island is by bicycle or golf cart.

Pink Sands offers 25 secluded cottages decorated with sensual Moroccan, Indian and Balinese influences. This luxury Caribbean resort is surrounded with blue waters and the sound of birds, making it a perfect romantic getaway.

The 21 one-bedroom cottages measure 1,000 square feet is size, while the 4 two-bedroom cottages offer 2,000 square feet of space. Guest rooms have central air-conditioning, full bathrooms with Aveda products and private outdoor patios with teak furniture.

The hotel has a freshwater pool, three tennis courts, an exercise studio and a beach restaurant and bar. Snorkeling equipment and boogie boards are made available to guests.

The two restaurants at the resort serve Caribbean-International cuisine. Breakfast and dinner are served at the the Garden Terrace Restaurant, a romantic open-air restaurant with teak furniture and private candlelit corners. The Blue Bar is located on the beach and is open daily for lunch and cool drinks.

Beautiful Beach On The Island

Zanzibar Beach

Zanzibar Adventure

Zanzibar-Accomoditation

About-Zanzibar

Zanzibar archipelago is part of the East African Republic of Tanzania is facing the Indian Ocean. Consists of a number of small islands uninhabited, and two large islands called Unguja and Pembar. Islands of Zanzibar attracts tourists from all over the world because in addition to Zanzibar has many stunning beaches, is also rich in culture.

A Romantic Ambiance Filled with Whispering Water

We all love to enjoy and spend some grand and memorable moments with our family members and relatives. Most of the people love to visit with their family members on some perfect vacation spot. There are a large number of holiday destinations which are located in different parts of the world but searching for a perfect vacation spot is really a tough job. If you are also looking out for an exotic and majestic holiday destination for yourself, then this article of mine can really prove out to be a great help to you. In this article, I am going to discuss about some of the necessary facts related to the grand Maroubra Beach.

Maroubra Beach is located at the South Eastern section of Sydney in New South Wales of Australia. This grand beach is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from the Sydney Central Business District of the city of Randwick. The literal meaning of Marboura is place of Thunder.
The grand Maroubra Beach of New South Wales extends to a length of 1 kilometer on the great Maroubra Bay. There is also a Mahon Pool which is located at the Northern Section of the grand Maroubra Beach. This pool is located near the Mistral Point. A skating park is also sited at the end of the Marboura Beach. You can easily take pleasure of skating and other recreational sports in this great skating park.
The grand Maroubra Beach is well enhanced with two surf clubs which are the major attractions for the visitors of this beach. Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club and South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club are the two surf clubs. Visitors can easily enjoy various recreational adventures on this exotic beachside. The Maroubra Beach also comprises of the safe swimming area which is concerned with flags of different colors. Swimmers are advised to enjoy swimming within the safe area. This ensures the safety of the visitors of this beach.
There is also a reserve known as the Arthur Byrne Reserve which is located along the wave front of the Maroubra Beach. This reserve comprises of a small park for the children. This park is well enhanced with tables for Picnickers and Barbeque facilities. The Blue Pavilion Building is well enhanced with various facilities for the public. The best time to visit this exotic beach is the summer season when the water capacity is really very high.

Shivappa Nayaka Palace, Shimoga

In Shimoga (State: Karnataka) the fort originally had occupied around 200 acres of land. Of which now only 10 acres of land is occupied by fort area. Even though I could not see any fort walls I did see a 16th century palace built by ruler Shivappa Nayak of Keladi Dynasty. This beautiful palace is situated on the banks of river Tunga in the old city. (Click on the images for bigger view)

This was much larger structure, of which currently only the Durbar Hall survives the ravages of the war against Bahmani Kings. The Durbar Hall is built with wooden pillars giving an elevation of almost twenty feet from the ground level.

The carved pillars and artificial roofs is made of teak and rosewood. The roof of the palace is covered with Mangalore tiles. The wooden staircase leads up to the first floor. And there is a projected wooden balcony in the central part.

There are beautiful floral carvings on the pillars and arches between the pillars.

The architecture of the palace is Indo-Saracenic where one can see elements of Rajput, Islamic styles. Today, this palace also servers as a museum for Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The palace is maintained by ASI and as of today no charge or ticket for visiting this elegant palace.

For more visit My World Tuesday

Flowers of Cubbon Park, Bangalore

The Cubbon Park or "Sri. Chamarajendra Park" in the heart of the Bangalore (State: Karnataka) city and it occupies around 250 acres of area. (Click on the images for bigger view)

It is home for several variety of flowers.

For more visit Today's Flowers

and Mellow Yellow Monday

and Ruby Tuesday

Trip to Tamil Nadu

I had the pleasure of traveling through the state of Tamil Nadu to see various places. I undertook a 8 day trip across the state. (Click on images for bigger view)

We started from Bangalore by a hired car and covered the following cities: Vellore, Tanjore, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Kancheepuram, Gangaikondacholapuram, Darasuram, Madurai, Trichi, Srirangam. I also covered the Pondicherry even though it is not part of the state as I had to pass through it.

Come and travel with me.

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Radhasoami Memorial, Dayalbagh

Dayalbagh (State: Uttar Pradesh) is at a distance of 15 kms from Agra. (Click on the images for bigger picture)

Here, the grand monument Radhasoami memorial is 110 feet high, and is made of pure white marble. The building is under construction for the last 100 years. The architecture is an exquisite mix of temple, gurudwara, vihara and mosque.

The above is the entrance to the memorial.

The stone carvings on colored marble are magnificent. On the inner walls the semi-precious stones in pietra-dura style has been inlaid.

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Festival of Lights

Deepavali is rightly called "Festival of Lights" as can be seen from the images here. It is celebrated for 5 days and on all nights the sky is lighted by bursting crackers.

The crackers light the sky with various designs and patterns.

These are some of the images on the night of Deepavali sky over Bangalore.

At this time in India the sky is brightly lighted.

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Queen Victoria Statue, Bangalore

Cubbon Park in Bangalore (State: Karnataka) is one of the biggest parks in the city. There are several statues installed in this park.

In the year 1906, the Statue of Queen Victoria of Britain is installed in this park.

This statue is located at one end of the park near Mahatama Gandhi Circle.

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Deepavali, Festival of Lights

Friends wish you all

HAPPY & PROSPEROUS

Deepavali

Deepavali popularly known as the Festival of Lights is an important festival celebrated in India. It is celebrated over 5 days and if one wants to understand the traditions followed in India, then this should not miss the festivity.

It is usually celebrated some time between mid-October and mid-November. Each day in the 5 days celebrated for varied reasons like slaying of demon by the lord, worship of Goddess of wealth. But it mainly signifies victory of good over evil.

As a preparation to the festival the shops sell lot of items like crackers, variety of sweets, colorful people lanterns, lamps of various shapes.

Rangoli are drawn in front of each of the homes. It is decorations made from colored powder and flowers.

People celebrate the festival by offering prayers to Lord, distributing sweets, decorating their homes with Rangoli, bursting crackers.

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NathmaljI Ki Haveli, Jaisalmer

This late 19th century haveli (mansion) is located in Jaisalmer (State: Rajasthan). The interior as well as exterior of this haveli is carved magnificent. The designers exhibited high level of quality and skill in executing the massive haveli. (Click on images for bigger view)

Even though it is built with a single building plan, the architectural brilliance is such that the two wings were built differently. However, the two wings seem to have faultless harmony.

The carvings on the window are carved out with great precision. The walls are ornamented with stone figurines of horses, flowers, birds, elephants and interesting patterns that resemble extravagant pieces of art.

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