Archive for April, 2010

Exoticism of Diving Tours

April 29th, 2010

Feel the sensation when the body surf in the collection of small to giant-sized reefs that grow in sandy seabed, coral walls along tens of meters, agile movements ditingkahi diverse coral and marine fish with body shape and color of an enchanting.

Panorama that can easily be found in this maritime country. With a length of 95 181 kilometers of the coast or the second longest in the world, humble paradise with a variety of reef fish on the surface (pelagic) and bottom (demersal), cave, up the mountain under the sea.

Waters of Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi, is a small example of the nirvana that. Divers can be passed with exotic fish, such as Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and a giant green turtle (Chelonia mydas). On the Beach Hukurila in Ambon, Maluku, and North Coast Wasage in Buton Island, Southeast Sulawesi, fans will be served by adrenaline challenge the view underwater caves.

Mangehetang Island in the southwest, Sangihe, North Sulawesi, divers can see underwater mountain in waters shallow enough to the point of a mountain crater at a depth of eight meters.

“Almost innumerable dive sites in the country. The potential is so vast and each point offering spectacular diving underwater unique and different, “said Steven, who joined the club divers Professional Association of Diving Instructor (PADI).

Diving lovers club

Diving tours in the country is evolving since the early 1980s. Special interest also led to the birth lovers dive clubs, dive training centers, and tourist resort with services diving operators offer dive objects violently.

With the emergence of diving tourism objects, the interest of society to recognize this growing sport. The growing interest of the community was reflected in the exhibition at least Indonesia and the Extreme Deep Indonesia 2010 in Jakarta on March 12 to 14, 2010. With the entrance fee of Rp 20,000 per person, from morning until night thousands of visitors from inside and outside the country crowded the booth shops selling scuba gear and travel agents.

Submarine service providers utilize the momentum of the exhibition to offer a natural beauty that is ready “exploited”. A number of leaflets, DVDs, and books on tourist resorts and dive objects distributed free to visitors.

If countries in mainland Europe is able to stimulate tourists to exotic artifisialnya building, not an overstatement that dive operators and service excellence marine tourist resort raised in this equatorial country to tourists.

Biodiversity of fish resources in Indonesian waters is very high, reaching 37 percent of all fish species in the world. An estimated 2000 species of fish and 700 species of a total of 2000 species of sponges that live in coral reef ecosystems in Southeast Asia.

More than a third species of whales and dolphins, as well as six of the seven sea turtle species that live in the world can be found in Indonesian waters. This exotic places Indonesia as one of the world’s best dive sites.

Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries released, coral cover in Indonesian waters range from 51 020 square kilometers. Coral reefs are still in good condition and very well estimated around 30 percent, or an area of 15 306 square kilometers.

According to the Marine Eco Tourism Development Consultant Cipto Aji Gunawan, with a coral reef distribution is uneven, the coral reef areas that have the potential to be a tourist submarine is estimated that only around 30 per cent or 4592 square kilometers.

However, each square kilometer object capable of generating revenue dives estimated 600 000 U.S. dollars per year. With these assumptions, Cipto said, the potential velocity of money every year from tourist submarines could reach 2.75 billion dollars per year. The number is approaching half the total income of tourism of Indonesia in 2009 amounted to 6.3 billion U.S. dollars.

With the calculations that, there’s no doubt that the management of diving tourism can be counted on to boost tourism. In fact, Indonesia ranks only fourth in Southeast Asia in tourist arrivals (tourists) in 2008. Singapore occupied the first rank with an average of 15 million foreign tourists per year, ranking second and third occupied by Malaysia with 10 million foreign tourists per year and Thailand’s 10 million foreign tourists per year.

The question is, how serious efforts to manage dive tourism in Indonesia?

Compared with neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, the development of diving tourism in the country is still lagging. Year 2006, for example, the number of tourists diving in Indonesia just 30,000 people at the time ranged diving tourists in Thailand had reached 250 373 people in Malaysia and as many as 44 480 people.

Behind it, among other things, triggered by the lack of accessibility to attractions. Comparing with the Caribbean Islands, each square kilometer diving attractions in the country able to reap revenues of 3 million dollars per year because of the ease of access and adequate infrastructure.

Director Buton Resort and Dive Center John Fletcher argues, the natural beauty of the sea is very attractive for investment. He calculates there are at least 72 point dive in the waters of Buton Island is now managed by the private sector.

“The potential that still needs to be polished with a natural ease of transportation access in order to attract more tourists,” said a British man, who previously worked as a consultant and researcher of marine conservation of Indonesia’s forests.

Diving tourism development not only bring in tourists, but also can be relied upon as an economic cog local residents. Unfortunately, not many dive tourism industry in the country which are managed by community-based. Most of the tourist submarine business is currently managed by foreign investors and often without involving the local population.

In Lombok, eg, tourist submarine business is almost entirely controlled by foreign investors. Foreign entrepreneurs penetrated even to cultivate business in the tourist submarine remote locations.

The lack of involvement of local people in cultivating the potential of marine tourism is often trigger conflicts between communities and entrepreneurs. The conflict was more pointed when diving tourism continues to bring in money, while residents and local fishermen still drowning in poverty.

Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology, Bogor Agricultural University Arif Satria argued, problems that often arose in the development of nautical tourism is a conflict between employers and local fishermen. Conflict often leads to feud with businessman to fight citizen.

Dive tourism industry to benefit the local economy, the government in determining the firmness needed zoning marine tourism areas that do not collide with an area of livelihoods of local fishermen.

Avignon, the City of Art Festival in France

April 29th, 2010

Entering the spring with warming temperatures and the blossoming of the colorful variety of flowers, the French increasingly make tourists fall in love by the comeliness.
For eating, the City of Avignon as like a tourist town offers a variety of restaurants to taste.

When talking about France, it is definitely the city of Paris with the Eiffel Tower which became the target of foreign tourists. However, in southern France, scenery and attractions on offer is actually very famous in the world of tourism. Temperatures are warmer, Mediterranean sea, cooking, lavender flower beds and as a place of birth or berkaryanya famous artists.

Some incoming mail to my email many cities seek advice what could Indonesia visited by tourists in Paris. Therefore I would like to invite readers to know more closely the four cities in southern France which I think has the beauty and uniqueness. Also as a target of foreign tourists spending their vacation in southern France.

Avignon

Avignon can be described as the heart of Provence, a city rich in cultural heritage treasures. When it comes to this town, our eyes will see a big fort around the city, also known as the capital of Christianity in the 14th century. The old city of Avignon is located in the fort fortified.

Along the road in this old town, narrow streets which passed like a witness history in the past. I came to this city almost every year, because the festival in a lively summer. First to be visited while we’re here is, go to tourist information which is not far from the main entrance of the old city.

There, he finds a variety of information in the form of a guide book for free with a choice of three languages (French, English and German). Tourist brochures from the starting place to stay, restaurants to offer to tour both in the city of Avignon itself to several other towns nearby. Can also obtain information directly from the lighting. My suggestion is, when it comes to tourist centers of this information, to request pass card, which is a pass card, we can also get discounted prices 50 percent to 70 percent for every time I visited the sights.

For those who enjoy walking, reveals the beauty of the old city and tourist attractions can be done about half to one day depending on the number of places we want to visit. But it could also use a tourist train in the city, the fees charged 7 euros for adults and 4 euros for children.

Pope’s Palace and the Bridge of Avignon

What are the views of Avignon? First is the main purpose for sure, the Palais des Papes (Palace of the Popes or the Palace of the Pope). Palais des Papes is a very important place in the 14th century, because it is the primary residence of Pope at that time. Visitors can visit 25 rooms decorated with stunning eyes to the beauty of each procedure room. Here we can choose to visit freely with hearing aids (audio guide, available from a variety of languages) or with a guide in the entourage.

Two times I have come to this place, I tried both, visit freely and with a guide (free). We are indeed more freely to save time but to guide the more detailed things that we can get, and if there are any questions we can answer directly dapakan. The duration of the visit in a place that get ranked in the UNESCO as world heritage for humanity is about 1 hour 15 minutes.

One thing that should not be missed, is a souvenir boutique, frankly do not remember if finance is limited, it feels like to buy all the displays of beautiful souvenirs. Moreover souvenir for the kids in the form of medieval warfare. Have imagined their joy when sung by the-by like this. Price went into this place depending on the season is 8.50 euros and 10.50 euros. And for wine enthusiasts, there is a special boutique that provides a collection of local wines are very famous.

From the Palais des Papes second goal that must be done is, visit the Pont d’Avignon (Avignon Bridge). Pont d’Avignon is the chief witness the history of this region, is known almost all over the world thanks to his song, Pont d’Avignon. Built in the 12th century but some times suffer from the damage caused by floods from the Rhône River, and then rebuilt in the 17th century. After paying 4.50 euros, we can get hearing aids (audio guide) with a choice of language, which provides detailed information on each of these bridges. The bridge is only a piece of this, also get ranked in the UNESCO as world heritage.

Restaurant

When we came to visit Avignon starts in the morning, two places that I mentioned earlier already takes about 3.5 hours. Time to fill stomachs started growling. For eating, the City of Avignon as like a tourist town offers a variety of restaurants to taste the tongue. For foods that are difficult to europe, asia restaurant a lot and very easily found, ranging from Chinese restaurants, Vietnamese and Japanese food.

But for those who like to taste the taste of local cuisine, my suggestion to try the restaurant a la Provençal. One restaurant that I can recommend to readers of ‘La cuisine du Dimanche’. When I went to this restaurant, because of its reputation hear, taste Provençal arranged so slick and charming in every dish delicious-chewed food in my mouth. One thing I love about this restaurant, chef cook cooking menu in accordance with ingredients found in the market that day. My choice is Noix de St Jacques in accordance with vegetables in season. Prices start from 12 euros offered.

Unfortunately, many restaurants are closed on Sundays. But do not worry we can still find nice restaurants in the town square, just at this restaurant more for tourists, the food was standard. Only the profits when the weather is sunny we could eat in the plaza while enjoying the beauty of the buildings around us.

Other places we can go at a leisurely pace was, some museums. Les Musée d’Avignon (Avignon museum) and Le Musée Calvet (Calvet museum). Avignon Museum exhibit heritage masterpieces of the 13th century and to 16 in the form of a collection of paintings and sculptures from the artists of Italy and also provençales. Calvet Museum displays masterpieces from renowned artists to the 18th century until the 20th century.

Not only are the paintings of Manet’s all look good, and the collection of bronze sculptures that are displayed as if pulling us backwards past. Both the museum is quite big, takes up to 1 hour 30 minutes to visit every museum and admission is 6 euros.

Avignon is also famous thanks to the festival which is held every year. Held from the start date of July 7 until July 31. The Festival is always interesting foreign tourists, was founded by the famous artist Jean Vilar. We can visit the homes of these artists, if well pleased. This summer festival is divided into two, namely open and closed the festival. Open festival held in every corner of the city, sometimes even a parade. And of course free to watch. The artists will entertain the heart entrants with theater, songs, music to dance. The splendor of this festival is always so captivating for me. Think of it I was in a theater for the city that never-ending eye comfort. Festival held in the theater closed or a special place, which must be reached in his pocket penontong.

Because art is always rife by the event, then along the road we would have seen some theater or place of art in this city.

When evening arrived and legs began to ache the best thing is to unwind, sipping warm coffee. I recommend to enjoy a warm cup of coffee in a city park, Les Jardin d’Avignon. Avignon Park located next to the Palais des Papes and above the city built into the 18th century. From the park which was the Mount this small, we can enjoy the panoramic city of Avignon. And a warm cup of coffee we enjoy looking at a cool lake and ducks swim in the eyes feels unique. When the kids came up with this place will make them happy, because here is a playground for them.

If time remains, a few other places we can go according to our liking. For example the city which stood majestic theater. In this historic city you can also visit other museums outside the museum, which suggested earlier. Besides the names listed sights clearly on the tour guide that we get in the office of tourism, often for enjoying the beauty of this old city, we find many beautiful old church.

And for those who liked to surround the water, we can also travel by boat for a day or half day. This ship will bring us to enjoy a three city tour of Avignon, Ile de la Barthelasse (Barthelasse Island) and Villleneuve. The duration of approximately one hour tour and travel prices are 8 euros for adults and free for children. On this ship is also a restaurant available. Imagine enjoying Provençal cuisine, sipping warm air spectacle of the beauty of Southern France with historic heritage, on the water, delicious …. That’s the South of France. Oh yes, from Paris to Avignon by train TGV only 2 hours 40 minutes.

Swan Bells Tower a Gifts from London

April 18th, 2010

PERTH the  capital of the state of Western Australia are located in Swan River has a fairly unique attractions such as the Swan Bells Tower.

Swan Bells Tower was built by a local architect named Hames Sharley at the foot of Barrack Street or near the ferry dock. Buildings of this European-style bell was a gift from the Church of St. Martin in London.

Although slightly controversial style, the Swan Bells Tower building was designed very modern with bringing the 18 bells which became the center of attention of many visitors. In the daytime, the sound of bells on the sixth floor will be heard clearly in your ear. Not to mention the spectacular river and city can be seen from the top floor of the tower.

As for Barrack Square purposely built for the purposes of the visitors are equipped with restaurants, cafes, several shops, bicycle and pedestrian areas. To enter the location of the tower, you will be charged an entrance fee of about USD 7 – USD 11

A Luxury Yacht Charter in exotic destinations

April 18th, 2010

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6 Top Tips For A Safe And Pleasurable Yacht Vacation

April 10th, 2010

So you have decided you want to go on the perfect vacation you have always dreamt of – chartering a yacht.

Before you go ahead and consult a specialist, you should read carefully the following tips, and then right them down on a piece of paper along with the things you really want to experience during your charter and what you want to do.

The tips

Tip. 1
You should see chartering a yacht just as a classroom, and in order to understand what the teacher is talking about, you must be correctly informed. In this case the charter agent is the teacher.

WMT – this means Western Mediterranean Terms. It includes chartering equipment and the yacht, insurance for the yacht and the crew, wages and food for the crew. All other commodities such as consumable stores, harbor charges, food and beverages, pilotage fee and any charge made on-land such as electricity or water, communications and laundry, will be supported by the charterer.

SEMT – it means Standard Eastern Mediterranean Terms. The fee includes: the obvious chartering of the entire yacht and equipment, crew wages and food, insurances for the yacht, fuel for a set course or a specified numbers of hours/day, electricity or water taken form shore and harbor taxes. Other cost will be charged to the charterer as follows: consumable stores, beverages and food, harbor expenses besides the preset ones, communications, laundry and fuel for tenders such as ski-boats.

SCT – it means Standard Caribbean Terms. every expense listed in the WMT and SMET paragraphs are included in the fee, as well as every piece of food served on the yacht. Also, there are extra charges you should be aware of, such as the wines and anything found in the bar, special activities equipment such as scuba-diving equipment and marina berthing.

GT – it means Greek Terms. They include chartering of the yacht and equipment, crew food and wages, third party claims insurance for the yacht, harbor taxes while in Greece, and ship’s laundry. Food, beverages communications and fuel will be charged as well.

Now, that you know the terms and specifications, when you will go and see your chartering operator, you will know what is he talking about, but, to be even further informed you should know the following.

Tip. 2
Before you decide what kind of yacht to hire, ask yourself what do you expect from the holiday. First, and foremost, if you want to hire a yacht, you should be a man who like sumptuous surroundings. Then, do you want to host parties for your friends while you are docked at some of the most fashionable marinas? Or maybe you just want to relax in a private cove while reading your favorite book. Maybe, you want to learn exciting water sports? These are the type of questions to ask yourself, before anyone else.

Tip. 3
Depending on the type of person you are (and only you know this), you should decide on what will you be chartering – a motor yacht or a sailboat. While sailboats are slower and perfect for the romantic type, and for the one who is really in love with the sea, the motor boats give you the luxury and incredible yacht lifestyle.

Tip. 4
Friends. Think ahead of the number of friends you will be having with you, and to the size of the parties you will throw in order to anticipate the size and configuration of what you will be chartering.

Tip. 5
Calculate the time you want to spend on your yacht, because this will be critical when you will want to go to the many places the sea has to offer, no matter where you are.

Tip. 6
Make reservations early before going, since during the holidays the yacht are booked up to a year in advance, and in some cases even more.

These tips come to aid you in your perfect holiday quest. They are not meant to replace the information given by an agent, but to complete it. I hope you have fun.

Explore River and Fishing In China

April 5th, 2010

A fishing vacation is never complete without fishing in the waters of Hong Kong, China. You may explore the fishing realms that the region has to offer. Hong Kong has once been known as an excellent port for fishing enthusiasts. Hong Kong will offer you the kind of fishing that you will never forget.

People may be after the food, shopping and the tourist spots of the region. But for people who are into fishing, Hong Kong can give more than what is expected of it as a city. To fish in Hong Kong is very exciting. You will be able to learn and experience the methods of fishing they have in Hong Kong.

Since it is surrounded by an ocean, this explains why most people fish in saltwater in Hong Kong. Targeting a fish is very simple. The ocean and the harbors are very accessible. You can fish in the harbors of Kowloon, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwun Tong or the Hong Kong Island.

In Hong Kong, saltwater fishing is done everywhere in the surrounding ocean. There has never been a scarcity of fish in this region. You will find fish everywhere in the water. Tourists who come to fish can also visit Stanley, which is near Hong Kong. Stanley will be perfect for you if you are someone who wants peace, enjoy fishing quietly and away from the city life.

The Lamma Island and Sai Kung peninsula and are also spots recommended by local Anglers. These two places still have the features offered by a traditional fishing village. They also provide people with charter boats.

The Anglers in Hong Kong use the same saltwater fishing techniques that are used in the US. You can use your own techniques even if it’s deep sea fishing or surf fishing. Many people also use bloodworms or shrimps to catch fish.

Hong Kong, also provides fresh water fishing. Carp, Big Head Tilapia, and Edible Goldfish are the types of fish that you will catch in these water reservoirs. Tourists, however, have a difficulty trying the Freshwater fishing since they still need to supply a license to fish in Hong Kong.

Going to Hong Kong to fish does not require much planning for a fishing trip. You will be able to track down easily the hot spots of Hong Kong where you can enjoy fishing. Hong Kong is surrounded by water, which means that fishing is everywhere. You will be surprised that in a matter of hours, you are able to catch a bucketful of pan-sized fish.