Tips for travel insurance

Many tourists ignore one important aspect of a foreign trip, Travel Insurance. That is the reason most of the Embassies and Visa issuing offices made the travel insurance mandatory with the Visa application, like the European countries and USA etc. Japan and India is still allow tourists without the travel insurance, but every tourists are advised to insure himself during the travel in a foreign country.

Find below some important travel related costs that travel insurance can shield you from.

* Travel Medical Insurance: covers everything from injuries and ailments to emergency evacuation which can costs upwards of US$ 18,000 depending on the distance and remoteness.

* Additional Travel Costs: Medical situations have several associated costs like changing flights, additional accommodation, cost of companion, taxis, food, etc, which can run into thousands of dollars.

* Personal Liability: This can cost you a lot of money in the event you are sued and in places like the US the risk is compounded.

* Personal Possessions: This provides protection against loss, theft or damage of your expensive equipment, like cameras, notebooks, etc.

* Trip Cancellation Insurance: Illnesses, accidents and life in general can happen to any of us at many time, but having to cancel your expensive holiday because of it doesn’t have to cost you money as well. Always buy your travel insurance the moment your trip is booked.

Who needs Multi Trip Travel Insurance:

Annual Travel Insurance is a money saver for people who travel frequently or at short notice. It is also useful for families that travel 3 or more times a year, or for the project workers who have to travel frequently to client locations.

Multi Trip Travel Insurance Benefits:

* No limits on the number of trips you can take in a year.

* Automatic travel cancellation protection the moment you book a trip.

* Children under 18 are covered for FREE.

* It allows up to 60 days stay per trip and is Ideal for project workers who have to travel frequently.

* Free Extras; like free ski insurance ranging from 10-21 days.

* Multi Trip Travel Insurance is also known as Annual Travel Insurance.

* It is a money saver!

* Some Insurers also include domestic travel insurance in their annual travel insurance cover

Travel Medicare Insurance is definitely the most important cover you need while traveling because medicare is very expensive, no matter where you go.

Important Points you should Know about Travel Medical Insurance:

* The deductible amount for travel insurance is what your insurer will deduct before paying you. Say you incur medical expenses of $800 and the deductible is $500; the insurer will pay you only $300, which is quite pointless. The deductible can range from $100 to over $1000 and the way it works is; the lower the premium the higher the deductible.

* The cover for travel medical is always in the millions, but most insurers set ceilings on payouts for certain elements of the medical cover, so be sure to read their policy wording.

* Check the policy wording and read what is covered. Sometimes this is written in legal double-dutch, so be sure to get clarification on points you don’t understand.

* The policy wording also lists what is not covered so be sure to check for that. Also read the general exclusions because instances like war, riots, etc are not be covered.

* Travel medicare insurances do not cover expenses incurred for, or caused by pre-existing medical conditions.

* Check if additional incidental costs like flights, accommodations, even taxis charges are covered because with a medical situation abroad these costs are more than likely. Some insurers even covers these costs for whoever is staying with you.

* Most trip medical insurance covers Emergency Evacuation, but do check the clauses.

* Most insurers will have a Medical Emergency Number, be sure to make a note of it. The last thing you want to do is have to hunt for that in a crisis.

Travel Hawai, Honeymoon in Island

Hawaii is one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. Each year hundreds of newlywed Americans chose Hawaii as their honeymoon destinations. There are several reasons behind it. Hawaii is one of the easiest tropical islands to visit from USA. No passport is needed and no international hassles, numerous amenities and the quality of the hotels is much higher than on many tropical islands, the weather is terrific year round, including sunny skies and cool trade breezes. Not only Americans, tourists come to Hawaii from almost all countries to enjoy their honeymoon in Hawai. A honeymoon in Hawaii also includes white sand beaches, lush green forests, volcanoes, and dramatic coastlines. This scenic variety, mixed with the rich, native Hawaiian culture, creates the perfect romantic honeymoon in Hawaii. Each island, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Hawaii, and Molokai, has unique beauty and charm of their own.

What to Do during Honeymoon in Hawaii:
Honeymoons in Hawaii can never be boring. There are countless water activities in Hawai to do, like swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, sailing, windsailing, jet skiing, outrigger canoeing, and kayaking. These are obviously for more active or adventurous couples. For those who want to relax the sea beach is just perfect. For those who need to get out on the town, spend some time in Honolulu for fun nightlife. You can also try hiking for getting inside the nature. A great way to see the islands of Hawaii is by helicopter. Pass over the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” or the dramatic lava fields for breathtaking views.

Hotels in Hawai:
There are some outstanding luxury hotels and resorts in Hawaii. For couples on a budget, many affordable accommodations in Hawai are also available. Some of the best restaurants in the world are scattered among the islands. Local Hawaiian cuisine, including fresh fish, succulent fruit and locally grown coffee, is popular, but there are many varieties of restaurants. Hawaii offers everything couples could want for the perfect tropical honeymoon.

Find below some of the best romantic Hawaii beachresorts:

    * Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, Kauai
    * Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
    * Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, Oahu
    * Hanalei Colony Resort, Kauai
    * Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele, Lanai
    * Fairmont Orchid, Big Island - Hawaii
    * Aloha Beach House, Molokai
Hope this article will help you in selecting the right travel deals for your honeymoon destination.

The photos are collected from net.

Travel Tokyo: Sayuki Geisha from Asakusa Temple

Literally geisha in Japan means an "artist" or "performing artist". Another name for geisha used in Japan is geiko (芸子), which is usually used to refer to geisha from Western Japan, including Kyoto. Apprentice geisha are called maiko. The white make-up and elaborate kimono and hair of a maiko is the popular image held of geisha. A woman entering the geisha community before 21 years may begin her career as a full geisha with usually a year's training, but those who do go through the maiko stage can enjoy more prestige later in their professional lives of Geisha.

From a long time there were female entertainers in Japan. They were called saburuko. Some of these saburuko girls sold sex services in Japan, while others with a better education made a living by entertaining at high-class social gatherings. After the imperial court moved the capital to Heian-kyō (Kyoto) in 794, Japanese Geisha culture began to emerge, as it became the home of a beauty-obsessed elite. Skilled female performers, such as Shirabyōshi dancers, thrived.

In ancient Japan, for sexual enjoyment and romantic attachment, men did not go to their wives, but to Walled-in pleasure quarters built in the 16th century, outside of which prostitution was illegal, and within which "yūjo" ("play women") would be classified and licensed. The highest yūjo class was the Geisha's predecessor, called "Oiran", a combination of actress and prostitute in Japan, originally playing on stages set in the dry Kamo riverbed in Kyoto. They performed erotic dances and skits, and this new art was dubbed kabuku, meaning "to be wild and outrageous". The dances were called "kabuki," and this was the beginning of kabuki theater.

The appeal of a high-ranking geisha to her typical male guest has historically been very different from that of his wife. The ideal geisha showed her skill, while the ideal wife was modest. The ideal geisha seemed carefree, the ideal wife somber and responsible. Geisha do sometimes marry their clients but they must then retire; there can never be a married geisha.

Geisha may gracefully flirt with their (often infatuated) guests, but they will always remain in control of the hospitality.

The first western Geisha is Graham, who is popularly known as Sayuki Geisha of Asakusa. She is an Australian by born.

Continue Reading more on the First Western Geisha, Sayuki Geisha.

Sayuki Geisha, the First Western Geisha Quits

Coming to Japan at the age of 15 on a school exchange programme, in 2007, Australian anthropologist Fiona Graham began a new career as “Sayuki the geisha“.
Graham, the Sayuki Geisha of Asakusa, formally debuted as a geisha in the Asakusa District of Tokyo, after completing the normal preparation of around one year. She claims to be the first western geisha in Japanese history. Graham is taking lessons in several arts, but her main art is yokobue (Japanese bamboo flute). Her achievement of geisha status was praised in the Western media. She was even featured on Oprah.
Now, only a few years later, her geisha career has come to an end. Graham has left the Asakusa Geisha Association – either because she quit or because she was kicked out. Graham apparently did not follow the rules of the Association. She thought her single year of training was enough, despite being told by her elders that she needed to continue taking lessons. The situation got so bad that they stopped considering her a geisha and requested that she quit. Graham stated that the Asakusa Geisha Association had rejected her request to operate independently from December 2010 after the "mother" of her geisha house fell ill. She would however continue to operate as a geisha despite the refusal, possibly in a different geisha district.

The Best National Park in USA, Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone Park is the first and oldest national park in the world and covers 8,987 km, mostly in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The park is famous for its various geysers, hot springs, and other geothermal features and is home to grizzly bears, wolves, and free-ranging herds of bison and elk. Yellowstone park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to see in Yellowstone park
Yellowstone is world-famous for its natural heritage and beauty. Yellowstone park holds half the world's geothermal features. The wildlife of Yellowstone Park is tempting as well, with grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk, all while standing on the surface of the Earth's largest known "super-volcano".

Mammoth
Norris
Madison
Geyser basins
Lone Star geyser
Grant Village
Lake Area
Canyon
Tower-Roosevelt

What to do in Yellowstone

Hiking
Wildlife Viewing
Horse Riding
Photography
Fishing
Swimming

Dangers in Yellowstone
Important, stay away from cute looking animals, they can be dangerous and potentially kill any human within minutes.

Weather in Yellowstone

The weather in Yellowstone National Park can change very rapidly from sunny and warm to cold and rainy, so it's important to bring along extra layers of clothing which can be used as needed. Usual Summer temperature varies from 25°C to 30°C and Winter temperatures often range from zero to -20°C. The record low temperature is -54°C.

Fees/Permits

All vehicles and individuals entering the park must pay an entrance fee that is valid for seven days. The entrance fee provides entry to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Fees are $25 for non-commercial vehicles, $12 for hikers and cyclists, and $20 for motorcycles and snowmobiles.

One year passes are available as an alternative to the seven day fee. The Park Annual Pass is $50 and provides entrance to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 and provides entrance to most federal recreation sites across the country including Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.

Continue Reading more on Yellowstone Park:

What to Do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest national park of USA. The following things a tourist in Yellowstone park can do:

Hiking
Taking a few 3-4 hour day hikes on established hiking trails will make you feel the real beauty of the Yellowstone park.

Wildlife Viewing
There is a lot of wildlife to view within the park limits. Birds (osprey, bald eagles, and many, many other species,) bison, big cats, deer, wolves, fox, bears, big-horn sheep, elk, and other animals can all be seen within the park over a short period of time. The more time that you spend in the park, the more wildlife that you will see. Some animals, such as the wolves, bears, and the big-horn sheep are generally not viewable from the park roads. The spaces within the park are grand, so make sure to bring binoculars and/or a spotting scope to best view animals safely.

Horseback Riding

Horseback is a favorite way to explore the Yellowstone National Park.

Photography
Yellowstone park is a haven for landscape photographers. The natural environments, beautiful hydrothermal features, wild animals to be found throughout the park, the colors of the hot springs ranging from bland white to yellows and blues, greens and oranges, all are great subject for every photographer.

Fishing and Swimming
These are allowed (but not encouraged) at a certain section of the Firehole River.

Continue Reading more on Yellowstone Park:

Tips on Visiting Yellowstone National Park

Though many of the animals in the park are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! Bison, elk, moose, bears, and nearly all large animals can attack! For any doubters, the National Park Service has put a series of animal attack videos [24] online -- these animals are large, wild, and potentially dangerous, so give them their space.

In addition, be aware that odors attract bears and other wildlife, so avoid carrying or cooking odorous foods and keep a clean camp; do not cook or store food in your tent. All food, garbage, or other odorous items used for preparing or cooking food must be secured from bears. Treat all odorous products such as soap, deodorant, or other toiletries in the same manner as food. Do not leave packs containing food unattended, even for a few minutes. Animals which obtain human food often become aggressive and dependent on human foods, and many can suffer ill health or death from eating a non-native diet.

When camping, either filter, boil, or otherwise purify drinking water. Waters may be polluted by animal and/or human wastes, and intestinal infections from drinking untreated water are increasingly common.

Always stay on boardwalks in thermal areas. Scalding water lies under thin, breakable crusts; pools are near or above boiling temperatures. Every year visitors traveling off trail are seriously burned, and people have died from the scalding water. Park rangers can also issue $125 fines for being out of bounds. Note though, it's common to get sprayed with fine mist from the geysers. You don't need to worry about being burned, as the water has traveled sufficient distance to cool down, provided you're within the designated areas. No swimming or bathing is allowed in thermal pools.

The weather can change rapidly and with little warning. A sunny, warm day can quickly become a cold, rainy or even snowy experience. Hypothermia can be a concern. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions by bringing along appropriate clothing. Lightning can and does injure and kill people in the park, so watch the sky and take shelter in a building if you hear thunder.

Continue Reading more on Yellowstone Park:

Sourced from Internet.

What to see in Yellowstone park, the Best Park in USA

Yellowstone is world-famous for its natural heritage and beauty. Yellowstone park holds half the world's geothermal features. The wildlife of Yellowstone Park is tempting as well, with grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk, all while standing on the surface of the Earth's largest known "super-volcano".

Mammoth

Mammoth Hot Springs are the most popular toruist attraction in Yellowstone park. The hot water flows deposits calcite and other substances and form large terraces and other shapes. Some of the terraces grow several inches per day.

The Boiling River is another very famous tourist spot in Yellowstone National Park. This small swimming hole is one of very few spots in the park where visitors can soak in naturally-heated water. Naturally it tends to be very crowded, so try to visit very early in the morning during peak season.

Fort Yellowstone is another popular spot in Yellowstone. The historic center of activity during the United States Army's tenure of the park. You can also hike to the top of Bunsen Peak. It takes approximately three hours round trip. The peak overlooks the old Fort Yellowstone area. Bring water and snacks with you.

Norris

Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone park is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world's largest geyser, which can throw water more than 300 feet into the air when it erupts. The Norris area is the hottest, most acidic, and most changeable in the park.

Roaring Mountain is a very interesting tourist spot in Yellowstone. A collection of steam vents and hot springs which make noises ranging from a nearly inaudible whisper to a roar that can be heard miles away.

Norris also includes other tourist attractions in Yellowstone like Gibbon River and Virginia Cascades.

Madison

Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone is a 84-foot falls tumble down a staircase-like rock.

Madison River in Yellowstone park creates a canyon with steep, tree-covered rock walls on each side.

Monument Geyser Basin which is largely extinct, but you can get some great views on its mile-long access trail.

Artist Paint Pots which is a half-mile hike takes you past many colorful hot springs, steam vents and bubbling mud pots.Terrace Springs.

Firehole Canyon Drive, Firehole Falls and National Park Mountain are some most popular tourist destinations in Yellowstone park. The National Park mountain is the spot where the Madison and Firehole rivers meet. As legend has it, this is where the idea came about to preserve Yellowstone as a National Park.

Geyser basins, including Old Faithful

Upper Geyser Basin is the most popular tourist spot in the Yellowstone park, the Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest number of geysers in the park, with over 100 located within a one square mile area. Boardwalks allow access to the most interesting areas. Do not leave the trails; the surface here is thin and unstable and has a real chance of depositing you in a boiling pool of water if you walk where you're not supposed to.

Old Faithful is world's most famous geyser, with large eruptions occurring an average of about once every hour and a half. Despite its reputation for having eruptions you can set a watch to, the timing between each eruption has actually been increasing over the past several decades. Rangers are able to predict the geyser's eruptions to within about 10 minutes, provided the duration of the previous eruption is known.

Other geysers in Upper Geyser Basin that are well enough understood to be predictable are Grand Geyser, Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and Riverside Geyser.

Lower Geyser Basin, unlike the Upper Basin, most active areas here are accessible by car. Great Fountain Geyser is the largest geyser in this group.

The Grand Prismatic Spring, viewed from above. There is a trail that goes around the back of the spring which has a small turn-off that lets intrepid climbers rise about 400 feet above the spring, and capture the entire basin in one view. For a closer view, there are raised boardwalks around the spring and nearby pools (viewable in the detail of the picture)

Midway Geyser Basin. This geyser basin is on a hill overlooking the Firehole River. The runoff from its thermal features flows into the river, leaving steaming, colorful trails in its wake. Absolutely spectacular!

Grand Prismatic Spring. Perhaps this geyser basin's most famous feature, this is a mass of sapphire blue hot water with bands of yellow and orange around its edges. This spring is more than 300 feet across.

Lone Star geyser erupting, Check at Old Faithful Visitor Center for times

Lone Star Geyser Basin. This and the following are more "Do" than "See," as they require some hiking to reach them. The route takes off from the loop road south of Upper Geyser Basin and follows an old, now-closed road for a total of about 3 miles (5 km). Bicycles can make it most of the way to Lone Star. Nice hike for families.

Shoshone Geyser Basin. Serious hiking is required to reach this remote basin, which is beyond Lone Star and a good 7 miles (12 km) one way from the trailhead.

Grant Village

West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the best spot here.
Abyss Pool. There is an optical illusion with this brilliant blue hot spring that makes it look bottomless.

Fishing Cone where in the past, people used to catch fish in Yellowstone Lake and then cook the fish by dipping them into this partially submerged hot spring. This stunt is no longer allowed.

Lake Area

Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake at an elevation over 8,000 feet in the country.

Mud Volcano/Sulphur Cauldron area of the Yellowstone park has pools of mud that are constantly seething and boiling.

Canyon

Dead trees near the summit of Mt. Washburn. These trees are the victims of a massive forest fire in 1987 that burned through over 30% of the forest running through the park.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is the best spot in Yellowstone park. Chemical processes over time have left stripes and patches of different colors in the rock of this canyon. Depths of the canyon reach 800-1200 feet. Trails lead along the north and south rims of the canyon, but while traveling the entire trail in one day is possible, it makes for a long and tiring day. Best to make it two shorter (~3 hour) day hikes.

The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone are two largest waterfalls in the park. The Upper Falls is 109 feet tall and creates a small canyon. The large Lower Falls is about 309 feet tall, and creates the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Artist point is the best spot to view the canyon and the lower falls.

Hayden Valley is the best place to watch bison in Yellowstone. Hayden Valley is home to a large number of animals.

Mt. Washburn. One of the best places in the park for spotting bighorn sheep, a trail leads up the mountain to a lookout tower near the 10,243 foot summit. The altitude may affect some hikers, so it is best to be acclimatized to the higher elevation before attempting this hike. In addition, bring extra layers, even in the summer, since the top can be windy and cold.

Tower-Roosevelt

Tower Fall is a 100-foot tall waterfall plunges down a rock, creates a thin canyon, and a rapid creek. Among others Calcite Springs, Specimen Ridge and Petrified Forest are some popular spots in Yellowstone park.

Continue Reading more on Yellowstone Park:

Travel Madeira Island

The island of Madeira is a haven from today's modern society and just a short traveling distance from most European cities. Madeira is in the lap of Portugal, at the banks of the waters of the Gulf Stream with warm comfortable summers and mild winters which make it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. Below you will find some information which may help you plan your last minute travel deals to Madeira Island. Years ago people discovered on this island a welcoming population, a wonderful climate and an ever increasing and diverse supply of hotels and other tourist accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Early tourists to Madeira were the passengers of the great cruise liners because Madeira was an important station and excursions into the countryside were a pleasant day’s break from the rolling Atlantic. From then, Madeira is brimming with smiles and colour. It is, more often than not, warm, sunny and mild.

The first hotel was built on the western edge of Funchal bay and English tea for the cognoscenti has been served there ever since. Many eminent and infamous visited the island during this time, like George Bernard Shaw, Winston Churchill and Napoleon, to name a few.

You can also rent a property for a few months which will give you an insight into the culture and people of Madeira Island.

Madeira will be more beautiful during the various festivals. Continue Reading a list of festivals in Madeira from my blog.

Madeira and Portugal, in general, has long intolerance homosexuals. Continue Reading about Gay & Lesbian Travelers in Madeira from my blog.

What to do in Madeira Island:
The islands of the Madeira Archipelago is most popular for its golden sandy sea beaches. You can lay down lazily, or can take part in some water sport, or swim at your own wish. If you are animal lover, Madeira has some presents for you. The sea life of Madeira is extraordinary, and a caravel is the most comfortable way to enjoy the sea life. Bonita da Madeira is such a boat, offering half or full-day excursions to Madeira's beautiful bays and to the Nature Reserve of the Desertas Islands, 15 miles south of Madeira. Leaving for the Desertas at 10am and returning at 6pm, there is ample time to explore, swim and have lunch, not to mention the dolphin and whale watching.

Just a 20 minutes walk can bring you into the lush green Boa Vista Orchids. The gardens include one of the last and oldest remaining systems of walled stairs terracing, as they were back in the 19th century to be found within the close proximity of the city centre.

No holiday in Madeira would be complete without a visit to the historic Jardim Botânico (Botanical Gardens). Set high above Funchal with views of the city and surroundings, the real attention-grabbers are the many exotic plants and trees collected in this wonderful garden. Easy to reach either by car or bus, the preferred method is the Teleférico Cable Car. Connecting the Gardens with the old town of Funchal, the cable car floats over the gorges and hillsides with some stupendous views on offer.

Among other tourist attractions in the Madeira archipelago, there are 3 wonderful golf courses- Santo da Serra, Palheiro and Porto Santo Golf.

Tourist Information Offices in Madeira Island:

The tourism offices can provide you with useful information about interesting places in Madeira Island and also bus timetables, which bus to catch to see ‘that’ place, island maps and other related services.

Once on the island, you can contact the Tourist Green Line by telephone on 800 296 296. They will be able to help you in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish, advise you about places to stay, to see, to eat and give you information about cultural events and the major festivals happening at the time. This service operates everyday (including holidays), from 09.00 to 21.00 h.

But you can also go directly to the tourism offices spread around the entire island:

Funchal's Centre Tourism Office

Arriaga Avenue. Opened from 9.00 to 20.00 h Monday to Friday and from 9.00 to 18.00 h weekends and public holidays

Tel: +351 291 211 902

Best Luxury Hotels in Honolulu

Fine below some of the best accommodations in Honolulu, Hawaii:

Turtle Bay Resort

This secluded Kahuku luxury resort sits on a peninsula with nearly 5 miles of beachfront and views of Kawela Bay. Seven unique restaurants and a health spa are located on-site.

Rooms at Turtle Bay Resort are decorated in soft, tropical colors and equipped with free Wi-Fi and cable TV. Oceanfront rooms feature private balconies overlooking the water.

A variety of gourmet and international meals is served among the resort’s restaurants. Island cuisine is offered at 21 Degrees North, located next to a waterfall and tropical trees. Leonardo’s serves fine Italian meals and desserts, and Hang Ten bar and grill serves drink in an outdoor surfer setting.

The beautiful Palmer Golf Course is open to guests of Turtle Bay and Spa Luana offers treatments with native ingredients including coconut and island bee honey. Guests can also learn yoga, tennis or horseback riding at the resort.

Turtle Bay Resort is 1.5 miles from Kawela Bay Beach Park and 10 minutes from the Polynesian Cultural Center.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort

The Kahala Resort is situated on a private beach in Honolulu, this luxury resort boasts 5 restaurants, a full-service spa, and a private lagoon with resident dolphins.

A free shuttle to Ala Moana Shopping Center is provided.

On-site activities include free surfing lessons and Hawaiian cultural classes. The Kahala Hotel and Resort also offers free bike rentals and daily walking tours.

Free access to the outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and saunas is provided to all guests. Kahala Spa features 10 private treatment rooms, massages and beauty services, and an open-air relaxation space.

Dining options include contemporary Island cuisine and authentic Japanese dishes. The Veranda features nightly entertainment.

The Honolulu Zoo is 4 miles from this oceanfront resort and Honolulu International Airport is 20 minutes’ drive away.

The Royal Hawaiian

This luxury resort located on the Waikiki beachfront in Honolulu offers a full-service spa, private beach access and rooms with flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi.
A refrigerator and iPod docking station come standard in The Royal Hawaiian rooms. Decorated in tropical colors and themes with airy windows the rooms also feature views of the garden or ocean.
Guests at The Royal can swim in one of two outdoor pools or relax on the beach. The resort also features a jacuzzi and water sports rentals.
The Mai Tai Bar features tropical cocktails and nightly entertainment with views of Diamond Head. The Azure Restaurant serves seafood and Surf Lanai is open for breakfast and lunch.
The Royal Hawaiian is one mile from the Honolulu Zoo. The International Market Place is within a 5-minute walk of the resort.

Halekulani

Located directly on Waikiki Beach, the Halekulani is a luxurious, 5-star hotel. The hotel offers direct views of Diamond Head, 3 award-winning restaurants, live jazz lounge and spa.
All guests of the Halekulani will receive an escorted check in upon arrival and be greeted with a welcome amenity, which includes tropical fruits and custom made chocolates
This oceanfront hotel features a tour desk, business center, nightly Hawaiian entertainment and weekly evening receptions. All rooms offer a flat-screen TV, MP3 Docking Station and private balcony.
The Halekulani offers complimentary access to area museums, including the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Iolani Palace, Contemporary Museum and Bishop Museum.
The hotel is about 3 blocks from the Ala Moana Shopping Center which offers stores such as Louis Vuitton and Neiman Marcus. The Halekulani is also 20 minutes from the Honolulu International Airport.

Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk

Featuring a full-service spa and a beautiful outdoor pool facility with dining service, this towering luxury hotel is a less than 5-minute walk from the beach. Free Wi-Fi is available.
The Trump International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk offers bright, elegant rooms with a 42-inch flat-screen TV and a kitchen or kitchenette. An Italian marble bath with bathrobe and slippers is included.
BLT Steak serves gourmet American cuisine in a steakhouse setting. The Wai’olu lounge offers a variety of special drinks throughout the day, including a liquid breakfast.
The Spa at Trump Waikiki features a selection of treatments using traditional Hawaiian plants and techniques. Guests can also enjoy the 24-hour gym and the library.
The Trump Waikiki Beach Walk is 3 minutes from the Waikiki Aquarium and 2 miles from Ala Wai Golf Course.

Sunshine City Aquarium

During my stay in Tokyo I have visited 2 aquarium galleries,

Shinagawa Aquarium
Sunshine City Aquarium.

The Sunshine International Aquarium is located in the the Sunshine City building. This building also have an observatory in the topmost floor which can be reached by the elevator at a tremendous speed. The main attractions of Sunshine City Aquarium are seal and sea lion show, a feeding show with manta rays, utsubo, which is a very large fish that looks like a coin, and a large number of freshwater, brackish and saltwater tanks. The Sunshine City Aquarium also has an enclosure of penguins, another of some pelicans and a big enclosure of some land animals like monkeys, macaws, armadillo, anteater and something that looks like a mix between a deer and a rabbit where some persons can enter and have a stay with close proximity with the animals. The Sunshine City Aquarium is not a very big aquarium but it has a good variety of fish and sea life. The aquarium also has a section where you can touch and connect various type of animals, fish, birds, reptiles etc. which is very innovative and must conscious people about conservation of these beautiful animals.

The Sunshine International Aquarium has one the endangered Eastern Snake Neck Turtle. There are tanks featuring marine life from virtually all waters of the world. Several tanks showcase the diversity of Japan's coast, while others tour around Australia, the Caribbean, fresh water fish from the Amazon, Thailand and Africa, deep water fish and jellyfish.

The biggest tank, which holds the manta rays and utsubo, has a feeding show every couple of hours; a diver goes in and handfeeds some of the fish. Especially interesting is to see the manta ray devour in one gulp a baby octopus. During the show the diver tells something in Japanese which I could not understand but the children likes the show very much. They also give torch during the show in the evening and switch off the lights inside the aquarium to give a feeling of diving in dark underwater.

Shinagawa Aquarium is one of the most popular aquarium galleries in the Tokyo area other than Sunshine City Aquarium.
Popular features include a dolphin and sea lion show, white alligators, gray reef sharks and seals. As the name suggests, it is in Shinagawa. During Christmas there are special Sea lion show, the tanks are decorated with a Christmas theme. The fun part of this aquarium is walking through an underwater glass tunnel while some 450 species of fish swim around and above you. There are no pamphlets or explanation panels in English. Also the dolphin and sea lion shows draw crowds on Sundays in an impossible numbers. Take the local Keihin-Kyuko private rail line from Shinagawa to Omori-kaigan Station. Turn left as you exit the station and follow the ceramic fish on the sidewalk to the first traffic light; then turn right. You can also take the JR Tokaido Line to Oimachi Station; board a free shuttle to the aquarium from the No. 6 platform at the bus terminal just outside Oimachi Station.

Timing:
10:00 - 17:00 (Last entry at 16:30), Dolphin and Sea Lion show thrice daily on varied schedule.

Shinagawa Aquarium Closed on:
Tuesday and Jan 1. Open on Tuesdays during holidays or school vacations.

Entry Fees in Shinagawa Aquarium:
Adult (+ high school) 1,300 yen
Junior high and elementary 600 yen
4 and up 300 yen

Contact No of Shinagawa Aquarium - 03-3762-3433

Access Point by Train:
The aquarium is accessable by JR (Omori Station) or Keihin trains (Omori-Kaigan) from Shinagawa Station.

History of Shinagawa Aquarium:

There are newer, larger and more innovative aquariums in Japan but except for Tokyo Sea Life Park they aren't anywhere near Tokyo. Shinagawa Aquarium is well worth seeing for those in the Tokyo region. The aquarium was opened in October, 1991 and has established a tradition of opening a new section for every 5 year anniversary. Penguin land was opened in August 1996 and was followed by the shark tank in 2001 and the seal observation building in 2006.

La Tomatina, Festivals in Spain

La Tomatina is a festival in Spain that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol or Bunnyol, in which participants throw tomatoes at each other. La Tomatina is also popularly called the tomato fight festival. It is held on the last Wednesday in August, during the week of festivities of Buñol.

In this fight there are no winners, only fun. The rule and motto is simple: COME DRESSED TO WEAR TOMATO JUICE!! You just have to throw those red ripe tomatoes at anyone that runs, moves, stays stills, bends down, or turns around , in short to anyone you can. But as in all games this carries its rules: You may ONLY use tomatoes, and you are to squish them before throwing them. Bottles, water bombs and the like are totally forbidden.

Odawara Castle is one of Japan`s most underrated castles. Odawara Castle is an Edo Period castle from the Kamakura Era. Kobayakawa Tohira first build the Odawara castle. After that Hojo So-un seized it from him in 1495. The Castle became the residence of a Mr. Okubo in the Edo Period, and towered over the city as a symbol of Odawara until its destruction in 1860. The outside of the present structure was restored and renovated in 1960 using fortified concrete, and the inside is an exhibition room for ancient books, paintings, amour, swords and other historical documents and artifacts. Photography is prohibited inside the castle museum.

There is also a souvenir shop in the topfloor of the castle.

The height of the castle is 60m and people can get a panoramic view of Sagami Bay.

LFS in Tokyo, Aquaforest in Sinjuku

While I was in Japan last year I visited the aquarium shop Aqua Forest, the best and most famous fish store in Tokyo.

I found their contact information first on the Aqua Design Amano website. I asked my JApanese friend Yoshiaki Matsuyama about the shop and show him the address and he agreed to take me to the shop next weekend.

Read TRIP REPORTS from Aquarium galleries in Tokyo:

Shinagawa Aquarium

Sunshine City Aquarium

How to Reach Aqua Forest:

The way to Aquaforest

The Subnade Mall 3

Aqua Forest is located in the underground mall(subnard) at the Shinjuku subway station stop, about a eight minute walk from the subway ground floor.

Address of AquaForest:

3, Shinjuku subnard. Kabuki cho 1. Shinjuku ku Tokyo

ph. 03 5367 0756

Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Their Japanese website is: http://www.a-forest.co.jp/map/index.htm

Aqua Forest aquarium shop in Tokyo is a bit difficult to find as it is located on the underground level of a shopping mall. Fortunately, the Subnade is located adjacent to the subway station and the mall's entrance has two display tanks. Unfortunately, the mall's directory is entirely in Japanese characters, so I was totally dependent on Yoshiaki or in the worst case you had to try and match the characters of the store name with the directory of the mall.

Once there, the large front opening presents beautifully aquascaped display tanks.

Caribbean is famous for its gorgeuos sea beaches. Good beaches with warm sun, crystal-clear waters, swimmable sea and fragrant sea air can be found on virtually every island of the Caribbean. Below I have listed some of the most popular sea beaches of Caribbean in a random order:

Shoal Bay (Anguilla): The stretch of silvery sand put Anguilla on the world-tourism map in the first 10 position. Snorkelers are drawn to the schools of iridescent fish that dart among the coral gardens offshore. You can take the trail walk from Old Ta to little-known Katouche Beach, which provides perfect snorkeling and is also a prime site for a beach picnic under shade trees.

MALAYSIA

In Malaysia the Southwest Monsoon usually occurs between May to September, bringing rainfall to the western side of Peninsular Malaysia. This affects places such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi.
On the other hand, the Northeast Monsoon starts from November and lasts till March, brining heavy rainfall to areas on the east side of Peninsular Malaysia, such as Kuantan, and Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak).
The Malaysian beaches are in particular famous as monsoon retreat among tourist from all over the world.

Best Honeymoon Spots in U.S.A.

U.S.A. has some great spots to chose for your Honeymoon destination. Below I have listed some of the famous honeymoon destinations of U.S.A. in random order:

Las Vegas:

San Francisco:

Best Honeymoon Spots in the World

One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him. He shall be exempt for one year for the sake of his family, to bring joy to the wife he has married.”

Honeymoon is the traditional vacations taken up by newlywed couple. Sea beaches and the romantic cities are always preferred for honeymoon. Find below some of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.

Italy:

Mexico:

Famous Beaches in the World

For most people, a summer vacation is synonymous with one thing--the beach. Whether you want to indulge in adventure sports, lie down lazily sunbathing, take a pleasant walk along the sea shore, or just admire the stunning natural beauty, beaches provide a wide range of options to unwind.

The perfect beach is more than just sand and waves, although these two, the clarity of the water and the quality of the sand, are the most important factors, the landscape around the beach must be beautiful along with them. Also the sea must be swimmable, there are some beaches I have felt are pretty bad just because there are lots of rocks and uneven hard surface which makes it impossible to swim.

With these factors taken into mind, I have listed down some of the best beaches in the world, in a random order. Most of the top beaches in the following list have plenty of restaurants and bars to hang out.

If your favorite beach is not in our list, please write a comment.

Akihabara Station is a busy station served by the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Sobu Line, the Tsukuba Express and the Hibiya Subway Line. Suehirocho Station on the Ginza Subway Line is located around the northern end of the district.

From Tokyo Station:
Akihabara is two stations north of Tokyo Station by JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku Line. The trip takes about three minutes and costs 130 yen. During weekday daytime, the Keihin-Tohoku Line skips the station between Tokyo and Akihabara, which shaves off a few more seconds from the travel time.

From Shinjuku Station:
Take the JR Chuo Line (orange colored rapid service) from Shinjuku to Ochanomizu Station (10 minutes) and make a quick and easy transfer to the JR Sobu Line (yellow colored local service) for one more station to Akihabara (2 minutes). Alternatively, take a yellow colored train without transfer all the way from Shinjuku to Akihabara (17 minutes). The one way fare is 160 yen in either case.

Find more details by clicking on "AKIHABARA".

Continue Reading More on Japan from My Blog:

Travel Japan:Breakfast in Japan

A traditional Japanese breakfast is based on rice, seafood, and fermented foods. The breakfast is often consists of steamed rice, miso soup, boiled fish, sometime grilled fish, tamagoyaki (rolled frozen omlet which includes shrimps, sea weeds etc or served plain), onsen tamago, nori (dried seaweed), natto, grilled chicken skin with sauce, grilled octopus, some fish/chicken pieces with cover of flour and obviously raw fishes. It is common in Japan houses to include leftover items from the last evening's dinner in the next day's breakfast. Western breakfast foods such as toast and boiled or fried eggs and cereals are also becoming popular.

So if your tongue does not suit Japanese foods, you have countless options of Western foods in Japan. There are McDonalds in Japan in almost every 15-20minutes drive and McDonalds is very popular among Japanese.

But here I am concentrating on the typical Japanese food.

Travel Journal