My Travel Tales

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The sun, the soft sand sifting through your toes and fingers, the salty wind blowing in from the sea, the sound of waves

People go cruising for different reasons. One thing is for sure that the experience of a cruise will always keep its unique images alive in your brain. Here are some tips and guidelines you should take into account when you discuss the details of a cruise with your cruise travel agent. They would help you to organize your thoughts and ask direct and targeted questions without unnecessarily wasting your time, for a proper understanding of the situation.

- There are different types of packages (family packages or single travellers packages) offered by cruises line; choose the one that fits you best according to your individual requirements;

- Who comes with you? (your children, you need a romantic getaway, you are a honeymooner or plan to get married

Approximate flying times: From New York: 17 hrs. From Chicago: 22 hrs 30 mins. From LA: 19 hrs 25 mins.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, forget the alarm clock. Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, comes a very close second. The city was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty. Today it's the country's spiritual, commercial and educational hub, home to approximately ten million people or more than 10% of the Thai population.

City of contrasts and confusion.

Bangkok (or Krung Thep in Thai which means "city of angels") is an exciting, high energy melting pot of east meets west. A dynamic city that has embraced technology and modern living with its busy expressways, bold skyscrapers and designer-filled shopping malls. Yet underneath it all, it remains a traditional haven of culture, history and time-honored customs, where elders are respected and family always comes first.

As you travel from the airport you'll see plenty of examples of modern architecture dotting the city scape and amongst them all, standing proud, are glittering Buddhist Wats (temples) such as Wat Phra Kaew and The Grand Palace. Snaking through the concrete jungle, you'll spy echoes of the "old Bangkok" below you

When paying a visit to Japan, one of the most popular stops along the way is the city of Tokyo, which offers an assortment of exciting activities and attractions. Whether you enjoy exploring the historical ins and outs of a destination or like to investigate the great outdoors, there are plenty of things to keep you busy during a stay in Tokyo. Below, you will find five suggestions on how to spend your time in the city that provides never-ending adventures in food, fashion, and fun:

1) Explore City History

The city of Tokyo is filled with a deep history that is seen through the many buildings and structures about town. To get a sense of old Tokyo, one should pay a visit to the Sensoji Temple, which can be found in Asakusa. Here, you will come across the oldest and most well known of its kind. Leading to this attraction, you will find Nakamise Dori, which offers a satisfying taste of traditional Japanese goods along a retail pedestrian lane. To reach this site, a boat ride on the Sumida River will deliver you.

2) Pay a Visit to a Museum

Museums are a great way to investigate the culture, history, art, and achievements associated with a destination. The largest museum in the city is called the Tokyo National Museum with interesting features such as samurai armor and woodblock prints. A wealth of artifacts are also situated at the Edo-Toyko Museum, which is stored within the walls of a rather high-tech building filled with an interesting collection.

3) Test Out the Cuisine

The Tsukiji Fish Market is the perfect place to sample some of the freshest sushi in the city. Here, you will have the pleasure of visiting the largest fish market in the country. Tuna auctions and many stalls of seafood awaken the senses. After visiting this attraction, you will have probably worked up a sizable appetite, which can be satisfied by numerous high-quality eateries offering both traditional and modern menu items.

4) Enjoy the View

When paying a visit to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (also known as TMG), you will come across an observatory that provides an awesome bird's eye view of the city. This free attraction is also a great opportunity to catch sight of the illustrious Mount Fuji

5) Admire Your Natural Surroundings

Depending on the time of year you visit, Japanese gardens are filled with the scent of fresh flowers and colorful presentations of nature's best. Some of the blooms provide the perfect scenery for a peaceful stroll with wisteria, peonies, and azaleas. Some of the best gardens in the city include visits to the Hama Rikyu Garden, Koishikawa Korakuen, and Shinjuku Gyoen. Fancy cherry blossoms? For a non-demanding 3-mile walk, why not stretch your legs about the Imperial Palace moat, which is especially breathtaking in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom? Ueno Park also offers a pleasing display of greenery.

Gifts are a part of celebrating the holidays. Christmas is a festive occasion when family and friends share warm memories and meaningful gift swapping. Gifts express your love and tell those that you care about just how special you think they are. You don't have to spend a lot of money, but your gift should be one that will be remembered throughout the years.

Finding a unique gift for everyone on your list isn't an easy task. But it can be done by shopping in shops that go beyond offering ordinary gifts of clothing, music or movies. You can also go online and do a "unique gift" search. You'll find hundreds of unique gift-giving ideas.

Personalized gifts are always treasured. Gather some of you favorite photographs and turn them into a collage for a calendar or framed print. Books are great Christmas gifts for those who like to read. Find out what their reading interests are and put together a small library. Jewelry boxes, either crystal or wood, make a special statement for someone you love, and hand decorated ceramics can be something someone will cherish forever.

If you're looking for something even more unique, put together a family cookbook with recipes from your family and friends. Who wouldn't appreciate a gift with their very own recipe included? Gift certificates to spas, gyms and dance classes are great for those you know are athletically inclined. Pets for animal lovers are truly unique and will bring joy under anyone's Christmas tree.

Finally, if you want to give your loved ones something they can be creative with, give gift certificates. There are certificates to specific stores, and there are vouchers that can be used for a variety of purchases. Again, the Internet is a valuable resource for information about certificates and vouchers. Many consider gift certificates the perfect gift.

It is incredible how Christmas can be an excuse to partake in various activities. Some for physical pleasure, while some to reach that blissful state through our philanthropic acts. It's an occasion to spread the message of goodwill and happiness through our words and more so by our actions, for actions undoubtedly speak louder than words.

In fact, during Christmas the whole of America transmogrifies into a quintessential winter wonderland as all adults and kids go berserk being a part of all the fun and excitement that lies in store for them. Sports like Alpine-ski, ice- skating, cross country-skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding and many other make a beeline in this spine-chilling season filling the heart with mirth and the soul with joys undulated. There are umpteen sports that add warmth to this cold and dull season. Basketball is a very popular winter sport which combines the fast-paced excitement of football with the concentration and athletic prowess of baseball. Those who belong to the rowdy, beer-drinking group, usually tend to have a fascination for Hockey. Snowmobile is another game which is in fact a motorized sled carrying one or two people over ice and snow. It is used both for work and recreation and is a popular winter sport in Canada, in the Northern United States and in the colder regions of Europe.

While most may be making the most out of the time they get to revel and enjoy the season, some may not be fortunate enough to do so. Thereby, some altruistic souls embodying the very spirit of fellow-feeling and sympathy, make sure that they make a positive difference in the life of the suffering souls in their own small way. In fact, some schools in USA undertake the noble task of ensuring that they diffuse the spirit of festivity in the lives of all and sundry.

For instance, some student councils in some famous schools in America have proved to be exemplary in their drive to serve the needy family by adopting one such family from one of its feeder schools each year, for the holidays. Each student who wishes to participate raises at least $50 to contribute to the project. On the assigned day they sing carols for the patients they visit, followed by a shopping spree for their adopted family, who are usually anonymous to them. Some students in another school, every year take an effort to spread cheer and joy in the lives of the destitute by organizing a holiday party for the women and children who live at a local battered women's shelter. The residents are invited to the school, where the students play games with the kids, make sweets and let them feel special as the poor kids are given the liberty to sit on Santa's lap. Gingerbread Express, organized by the student council members at one of the schools, is yet another interesting way of displaying one's concern for the underprivileged children. In this, the paper ginger-bread figures have names, hobbies and size of the kids whose parents can't afford to buy them Christmas presents. So the students and faculty members wrap toys and clothes for these children, which is delivered to the kids with the ginger-bread figure attached on it.

The student council at a renowned school in South Dakota also has a unique way to help the underprivileged people. They arrange a "sock tree" during the holiday period, whereby a tree is set up in the lunchroom area for students and staff to decorate with new socks, gloves, hats, and other items which are then donated to a shelter for the homeless. Christmas Bazaar organized by The St. James NJHS in Arlington Heights is among the few successful charity fundraisers. Children of the lower grades get a chance to purchase inexpensive gifts for their family members and the collections made are donated to the local charities. On the other hand, The National Honor Society at Ogemaw Heights HS in West Branch, MI, organizes a dinner at the local country club with a Christmas theme, which is a perfect blend of the holiday spirit and the fundraising effort.

Citizens here, thus not only enjoy this occasion but also take some time off to indulge in certain humanitarian activities by ensuring that Christmas days are rendered special for the rich and the poor alike.

The Gellert Hotel Spa is renowned as the ultimate spa destination in Hungary. Here?s a first hand account of the Gellert experience.

Gellert Hotel Spa

While in Budapest, everyone kept saying I hadn?t experience Hungary until I had a spa. According to my newfound friends, ?a spa? meant the Gellert Hotel Spa.

Being a macho American male, I dragged an American girl I met on the train with me to the spa. The purported purpose, of course, was chivalry and introducing her to an experience she would never forget. After paying $2 each, my bluff was called. Women and men were separated for the treatments. I was alone and didn?t speak a word of the language!

Once separated, I was sent into a large room with what appeared to be a few hundred dressing rooms. An attendant looked up from a desk, said something in Hungarian, slapped a piece of cloth in my hand and pointed to a dressing room.

In the dressing room, I prepared to change only to realize the cloth was no more than a string and a 2 x 2 inch square of cotton. For those anatomically challenged, the string went around your waste and the cloth hung in front. At this point, there was only one thing to do. Chant the traveler mantra, ?Ah, what the heck. I?ll never see any of these people again.?

Outside the dressing room, I proceeded to immediately stand around, try to look casual and see what the locals were doing. This was a bit difficult as I was the only person in the room. Eventually a local showed up, changed and headed down a hall. I followed and hoped he didn?t notice.

At the end of the hall, we walked through two giant pools. The walls were painted in baroque styles, the steps into the pools were marble and the whole place was impressive. I nearly let my loincloth slide up.

After the pools, we approached a room that looked remarkably more industrial. There was a line out the door and I dutifully joined it behind my guide. After a few moments, we rounded the door and I saw something I did not expect. Eight loincloth clad men like myself were lying on metal tables. Large male masseuses were standing over them. They would slap them about, spray them with garden hoses, slap them about and repeat as necessary. This wasn?t the massage I was anticipating, but I sure as heck wasn?t getting out of line. That would be to embarrassing!

After a few moments, it was my turn to jump up on a table. My ?masseuse? looked at me and said, ?Americanski?? I nodded. He grinned. And the beating began. A Hungarian/Turkish massage reminded me of the movie ?Rocky.? In Rocky, the lead character pounds on sides of meat to get ready for his fight. In the case of the massage, I was the side of meat. It didn?t hurt, but it wasn?t exactly relaxing.

After a few moments of tenderizing, I was lifted off the table and sent flying through the air. As time slowly passed, I noted this hadn?t happened to any of the men who went before me. I also noted the limestone and marble material used in the walls. Just as I started panicking, I splashed down into a pool to the sound of laughter. While I was trying to decide if I should laugh or be enraged, my body started sending its own signals. I was in a pool of what had to be the coldest water on the planet earth. I am talking Antarctica kind of cold.

Leaping out of the pool, the men in the room gave me a standing ovation accompanied by hunched over, gasping laughter. Now I knew Hungary.

Well, when in Rome?err, Budapest.

By: <a href=http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/Nomad-Rick/147>Nomad Rick</a>

<b>Pet Travel: What to do when traveling with pets</b>

<b>Pet air travel tips, road trip tips and more </b>Pets are like a child to many and the thought of leaving them at home while on vacation is not an option for some. However, before taking your pets on vacation with you, there are several items that you need to be aware of and a few pet travel tips that need to be followed.

Pet travel decisions While it may be tempting to bring your pet with you on vacation, keep in mind that some animals are not suited for travel whether it is due to illness, age or physical impairments. It is very important to consult with your veterinarian about pet travel and pet air travel before embarking on a trip to ensure the safety of your pet.

<b>Trains, planes and automobiles</b>

Pet air travel Every airline has different rules and regulations when it comes to flying with pets. So to avoid finding out your airline doesn't allow pet travel at the last minute, there are several things that you can do. First, contact your airline well in advance and find out their pet air travel regulations. Carrying your pet on board with you is the best option, but oftentimes cargo is the only option with some airlines if your pet is large. While Congress did pass the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act in April 2000, there are several items that need to be considered to ensure your pet's safety while flying in cargo. First, many airlines have specific carrier requirements so make sure you fulfill these. Second, make sure the carrier you choose is large enough for your pet to be able to turn around in and be comfortable for the long flight. Third, try to make sure it is a non-stop flight to ensure that your pet does not get lost. Fourth, correctly adhere a label on the pet carrier with your phone number, address, final destination and contact number while on vacation. There are plenty of other considerations and tips that can be found by looking at the Humane Society's Web site. If your airline does not allow pets to travel or you are wary of transporting your pet via cargo, you have other options to consider.

Road trip with pets Many pets love traveling by car; so it is a personal decision as to whether your pet needs to be kept in a carrier or not. Cats oftentimes are uncomfortable traveling, so it is better to keep them in a carrier for their safety and yours. If the pet is not going to be kept in a carrier you need to make sure they are safely secured in the vehicle. There are special harnesses that can be bought to secure or "seatbelt" your dog in safely. It is important to stop frequently when traveling with pets to let them exercise and go to the bathroom.

Trains, buses and ships Very few ships allow pets to accompany travelers and Amtrak does not allow pets. However, many European trains and a few small US railroad companies allow pets on board. As far as buses and other public transportation, the rules and regulations vary between states and cities.

Pet accommodations There are hundreds of Web sites out there that list pet friendly hotels and a pet-friendly hotel can be found in almost any city. For example if you're traveling to San Francisco you can stay at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District or if you're visiting Austin you can stay at the La Quinta Inn Austin North.

Pet Fun Wherever you are vacationing, a pet-friendly park or beach can be found and outdoor related activities are best for pet travelers. For restaurants, outdoor places will oftentimes allow pets to accompany.

When traveling with pets it is important to ensure their safety and not to do anything that could put them in danger. And if you're going to bring your pet with you, make sure that you will be able to entertain them. Here's to happy traveling!

One day I was visiting a community discussion board and came across a member's request for more information, on what attractions were near where they were staying. I was amazed by one of the response that went like this "Other than golf and the beach there really was nothing much to do in that place" Puerto Rico is only two hundred miles long by 35 miles wide, in view of this you can drive to just about any part of the Island in one day.

Here is a list of a few of the main events on the island.