My Travel Tales

Like many natural wonders that have caught the attention of global tourism, coral reefs could be suffering from too much interest. As well meaning tourists and water-sports enthusiasts, we descend in our thousands if not millions on and under the world's tropical and coastal waters. Unfortunately, the damage we leave behind is leaving it's mark. Marine life, and the sea on which we depend, surf, swim and dive in, is under threat from pollution, tourism, over-fishing and other damaging activities.

Coral and coral reefs are extremely sensitive, just walking on a reef can damage fragile coral that will take years to regrow. Many coral reefs are constantly being damaged by cruiseship anchors, legal and illegal spillage, sewage, tourists breaking off chunks of coral as a keep sake (however small) and commercial harvesting for sale to tourists and vacation divers like us. It is not unusual for tourist resorts to empty their sewage directly into the water surrounding coral reefs and thereby contributing to coral reef degradation.

With the help of small polyp like creatures and microscopic algae it takes nature thousands of years to create a coral reef. We can carelessly destroy it in the blink of an eye. Coral reefs could be called the rainforests of the ocean, they are reservoirs of biodiversity. They are a rich natural resource - a vital ecosystem. There are some 800 species of coral which, in the form of reefs, are home to an estimated 4,000 species of fish. In the last couple of decades some 35 million acres of Coral Reefs have been destroyed.

Hitting the bottom

A recent survey of the Gulf of Gascony found that in the survey area, to a depth of 200m, the ocean floor was awash with litter and man made junk. The survey idenitfied approx 50 million individual items of rubbish, a large percentage of which was plastic material (nonbiodegradable). This debris is potentailly lethal for marine life and birds caught up in it.

The presence of litter such as plastic bottles, crisp wrappers and sewage related debris on beaches and at sea is unattractive, has health and economic impacts on local communities, and is potentially harmful to marine wildlife through entanglement and ingestion.' [Marine conservation society]

Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food

Plastic bags don't biodegrade, they photodegrade: they break down into smaller and smaller toxic bits, contaminating soil and waterways, and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest the waste

Plastic bags are among the 12 items of debris most often found in coastal cleanups, according to the nonprofit Center for Marine Conservation

What can we do

Today 70% of the coral is threatened either by humans directly or through the effects of pollution and climate change. It is unlikely that this disregard for our coral reefs will stop any time soon. Next time you're on vacation just think how you can make a difference.

Say no to coral souvenirs, coral curios and jewelery

Watch where you put your feet, flippers can cause havok to a fragile reef

Watch where you drop anchor

Don't drop your rubbish. Take it home with you. Floating litter can cover reefs, blocking off sunlight that polyps need to survive.

In spite of world events, travel is still an activity that continues to be extremely popular. People will still have the desire to see new places and experience new things in the way that only travel can give them. Because of the importance of travel, an affordable and relatively pain free experience is high on the traveler's adjenda. A successful trip starts off with proper planning, but many beginner travelers don't realize that planning your travel budget, is just as important as planning your travel itinerary. The more successful you are with creating a budget that will work for your itinerary, the happier you will be about your travel experience.

Outside of major mishaps that can occur during travel, such as bad weather, theft, and mechanical breakdown, there are some costs that many travelers forget to take into account when budgeting for their trip. These are costs that can't usually be avoided, but can be easily planned for.

1. Extra Hotel Charges

When most people book hotels online, most times they don't see the extra taxes and fees included in the prices that are quoted. Sometimes when the quote is given, it will include estimated taxes, but the quote may not list the exact cost. Therefore, you should plan your budget to include unexpected taxes.

Other costs could be movies charged to the hotel room, tipping the concierge, and room service. These charges can vary greatly depending upon how often they are used. Movies charged to a hotel room can be as much as $10 per movie, and room service is usually more expensive than eating out at a restaurant.

The key is to determine before hand, a daily budget for extra hotel charges and stay within that budget. If you choose one day to go over your budget, use it from any leftover balance you may have from the previous days. If you use any of your daily alotment designated for the future days, you run the risk of spending all of your budget for extra hotel charges before your stay is up. Some self control is obviously required, however, it can also lead to having enough to do something really extravagant on your last day.

2. Transportation Costs

Transportation costs include expenses such as cab, bus, or train fares, any rentals of cars, bikes or motorcycles, and also gasoline and parking costs for rented vehicles. Many travelers will take into account the major costs such as car rentals, and even some occassional fares, but may leave out other required costs such as parking, and gas which can add up.

If you plan to travel to a destination where you will need to rent a car, it is a good idea to plan for at least $30 per day for every day you have the car, for parking expenses and gasoline. This amount can vary depending upon the destination, but if you are planning on being in a metropolitan area, you will find out that your $30 daily budget can be eaten away quite easily.

If you are driving to your destination, you should calculate the milage you get per gallon of your vehicle and then calculate the distance you need to drive to your destination and determine how many gallons of gasoline it will take you to get to your destination. Take the national average of the price of a gallon of gasoline, and add an extra 15% on top of that. Then you can determine how much it would cost to get to your destination by car. You should also add the cost of at least two tankfulls of gas once you are at your destination if you plan on using the vehicle after you arrive.

If you plan to use the public transportation system, you can look in any number of the latest guide books to find the expected costs of bus and train fares at your destination. Once you know these, and know your itinerary, you can make a reasonable guess on what your daily budget would be for public transportation. Always add an additional 10-15% for contingencies.

3. Special Attractions and Events

Costs for special attractions and events can really creep into your expenses when you are either traveling to your destination or are at your destination. Occasionally, featured attractions, or other events will pop up on your radar as you go through your itinerary.

When making travel plans, make sure you consider the trip in addtion to your hotel stays along the way, food, and gasoline. Most travelers don't take into account how they will feel as they are traveling. It could be that at some point along the way, everyone in the car is really getting on everyone's last nerve, and a movie, or a half day at the amusement park will put everyone in a better mood to complete the trip without it resembling a Jerry Springer episode. Or it could be that your favorite band is performing in the city you will be driving though, and you just can't pass up that opportunity.

It is usually difficult to know of every last thing before you start your trip, but you should still budget for unexpected activities you may want to do on your way to your destination. It will make traveling much more fun and spontaneous.

Planning your travel budget is something that can be a bit of an art, but there are decisions you can make that will make it less likely you will run out of money before your trip ends. Just take into account your everyday costs and will greatly increase your chances in establishing a budget that will give you enough money to complety your trip with minimal drama. You can easily find information and tips online to help you with your travel plans when setting your budget limits. Go online today to find these resources.

Copyright 2006 B Hopkins

On Halloween, children of all ages don their carefully chosen costumes of ghosts, super heroes, monsters, and everything in between, and head out at sunset to roam the streets, going door to door asking neighbors for candy and other yummy treats. In the beginning, though, Halloween was more than just a fun time for children. Halloween is a very old holiday, dating back to pagan traditions.

Celtic Tradition

Its origins date back to a Celtic festival called Samhain (pronounced Sah-ween or Sow-in). The Celts celebrated the beginning of the new year on November 1st. On the last evening of the year, October 31, they believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to the earth. These ghosts roamed the world, causing damage to crops and performing other mischief, as they searched for living bodies to possess.

Not surprisingly, the living were not keen to have their bodies inhabited by these ghosts, so on that night, they would dress in scary costumes, and parade the town, hoping to frighten the spirits away, and make it to the morning unscathed.

After the Celtics lands were taken by the Romans, Samhain was absorbed with two Roman holidays. Feralia was a day in October to commemorate the passing of the dead. Pomona was a day to celebrate the goddess of fruit and trees. (The symbol of Pomona was an apple, which may explain the adoption of the Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples.)

All Saints and All Souls

In the 7th century, in an attempt to replace substitute Samhain with a Christian holy day, the Catholic Church named November 1 as All Saint's Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs. The church tried again in the 9th century, making November 2 All Souls Day, a day when the living prayed for the souls of the dead. Neither attempt was very successful. Trick-or-treating is said to have developed from the All Souls Day custom of people going village to village begging for "soul cakes" bread made with currants. The more cakes they received, the more prayers they would offer on behalf of the givers dead relatives who were in purgatory. However, some sources say that this tradition had all but disappeared long before the North American tradition of trick-or-treating began.

By the 1500s, All Saint's Day had become All Hallows' Day, and Samhain had begun to be known as All Hallows' Evening, Hallow Evening, and eventually, Halloween. After the Reformation, Halloween celebrations were combined with Guy Fawkes' Day (November 5).

Halloween in North America

In the New World, Halloween was not celebrated. In fact, because of the Puritan tradition, all celebrations were considered immoral and even Christmas was scarcely observed before the 1800s.

Halloween was not a popular festival, but it did increase in popularity with the arrival of two million Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine. Nonetheless, by the end of the Civil War, in 1865, less than 5% of the United States population (mostly the Catholics and Episcopalians) celebrated Halloween and All Saints' Day. Determined to continue these traditions, the churches started campaigns to popularize the celebration. There is little documentation, however on Halloween prior to the 1900s.

IN 1921, Anoka, Minnesota had the first official citywide Halloween celebration. In 1923, New York joined in and LA in 1925. It was not long before Halloween was a nationwide celebration.

If you are going to go on budget holidays, but you're well past using Greyhound as a single mean of traveling, finding good, but inexpensive lodging on the course of your travels may become a problem. Those who found themselves sleeping in creepy dark closets that were advertised as "sunny inexpensive apartments" know that problem very well.

Fortunately finding good, but inexpensive lodging is still possible and in most cases it's not even difficult. There are three main ways in which you can get it: Internet search, tourist boards and gossips.

Internet searches

The easiest and the most common method is just to go online and search for the hotels or hostels in the area. The best way is, however, not to use any search engine, but go for some dedicated lodging directory (in every even remotely popular holiday destinations there is at least one such website) and browse it carefully, looking for the cheapest offers. The strong point of this method is the fact that in most cases you will be able to see some reliable customers' reviews. They will tell you more about general ambiance and quality of the place than anything else. What's more, all the information you need are at the same website, saving you a lot of time and nerves.

"Rumor has it"

If for any reason you can't find the information you need on the Internet, you can turn to your friends and workmates. Maybe someone has heard about a good lodging in the area or has even been there. While such information is usually somewhat outdated, they may be found helpful.

Tourist boards

When you are out of ideas, the last thing you can do is to contact the local tourist board. They will surely have the list of lodgings in their area and probably will be able to give you the contact information. In most cases being a member of a local tourist board gives a hotel some level or reliability - they will need to keep some standards or they risk being kicked off the board.

For almost a year, now, we had been planning to visit Spiti; the hidden valley on the northern side of the main Himalayan range. Spiti is home to around 10,000 people who share with their Tibetan neighbours a common ethnicity, language and culture. As it had recently opened to foreign tourism, we were keen to visit the valley, study the local culture, interact with a local school and trek across the Bhaba Pass. The one condition to go was to earn their cost. Bhaba Pass is a fine example of passes on the Greater Himalayan range, which are gradual towards the Tibetan plateau but fall steeply towards the southern side of the range.

With a team of 10 students from a grammar school in England, we embarked on my 2nd and my team's 1st journey to one of my favourite valleys in India. Spiti Valley. We had flown to Delhi and decided to take an overnight bus ride from there into the dusty market town of Manali at the foothills of the Himalayas. Beyond Manali, the road becomes a series of switchbacks through a pine forest all the way to Kunzum Pass. On the far side of the pass the Spiti Valley soon opened up

Santa Claus actually started out as a version of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, known as Neptune by the Romans. Early Greek sailors feared him. He could bring terrible storms in the sea, or grant them safe journeys. Because he could save them from the angry waters, he because known as "giver of all good things". The Romans and Greeks held a festival on December 6 in his honor.

Many countries still celebrate Christmas on December 6 but due to the rise of Christianity, the day was changed to St. Nicholas Day in honor of an Asian bishop. Nicholas of Myra was a benevolent bishop who wore red clothing, rode a white horse who could fly, and delivered gifts anonymously.

In America, we celebrate with Santa and his flying reindeer.

But many countries still celebrate with their own unique version of Santa.

In Sicily, it is the spirits of departed loved ones who bring gifts to children.

Italian children wait for a kindly old witch named Befana who flies through the air on a broom.

A Russian counterpart is known as Baboushka. Also called Grandfather Frost in some parts of the country.

In Holland "Sintirklass" arrives by boat on December 6th. Children leave a wooden shoe filled with hay and carrots for the donkey which carries the pack of toys.

In Sweden a gnome called "Juletomten" brings gifts in a sleigh driven by goats.

In Germany and Switzerland the "Christkindl", or Christ Child, brings the gifts. In some towns, Christkindl is an angel who comes down from heaven to give gifts.

In Australia Santa rides water skis, has a white beard, and red bathing suit.

In China, Christmas Old Man, brings gifts to children.

In England, Father Christmas wears a longer coat and has a longer beard.

In France he's known as Pere Noel.

All of Latin America and Spain are predominantly Catholic so Baby Jesus, el Ni?esus, brings the gifts.

In Puerto Rico, children receive gifts from the Three Kings on January 6th, also called Epiphany. Every child puts grass under their bed for the camels. In the morning the grass is replaced with gifts. But since Puerto Rico is part of the United States, major gift giving is done on December 25 from Santa Claus.

In Morocco he is known as Black Peter.

In Japan, Santa Claus is called just "Santa" and many children still call him "Santa no ojisan," which means "Uncle Santa."

No matter what name a child calls Santa, it's a thrill to write to, and get an answer from the North Pole.

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When searching for the right place to strap on your skis and take an eventful ride down a mountain this winter, consider the endless opportunities for excitement Big Sky, Montana has to offer. With two downhill skiing areas and countless other ways to get your fill of the great outdoors, you simply cannot go wrong with a Big Sky winter ski vacation. Make your way to Big Sky this winter and get ready for the thrilling, snow-filled trip you have been dreaming about all summer.

One of the ski destinations in this area is the Big Sky Resort, ideally located near Yellowstone National Park so visitors can enjoy the beauty and majestic nature of the scenery. Here, you will find three mountains that offer a fair balance of beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert runs that are sure to challenge your mettle and make your heart beat just a little faster. The signature Lone Peak is perfect for anyone who wants to get up to a skiable vertical of 4,350 feet while the six mile Liberty Bowl to Mountain Mall run gives you endless excitement as the longest run at the resort.

The other ski area, Moonlight Basin, is nestled in the Rocky Mountains and offers a unique terrain that creates a diverse collection of runs. Whether gentle trails and a few speedy cruisers are more your style or you prefer the all-out nature of spine-tingling chutes, you are bound to find an abundance of trails and plenty of space to meet your needs. Combined, the two resorts offer an impressive 5,300 skiable acres and over 220 trails, meaning you will never encounter a dull moment on the slopes.

While skiing and snowboarding are certainly the most popular activities, winter brings out a whole other collection of outdoor adventures that you should definitely check out. With so much scenery around you, grab a pair of cross-country skis and glide your way across the stunning terrain as you soak in the impressive mountain views. In the Gallatin National Forest and neighboring Yellowstone National Park, beginners can enjoy trails that make their way through open meadows while more experienced skiers can traverse forested canyons.

Other popular activities in the Big Sky area include snowmobiling and snowshoeing across the gorgeous terrain. Snowmobiling in Big Sky is certainly an adventure since there are numerous challenging trails located just north of Yellowstone National Park. As you make your way over the spectacular terrain, be sure to keep your eyes peeled since you will likely catch sight of some of the impressive wildlife that calls this area home. Snowshoeing is another great way to view the backcountry and leave your mark on untouched snow while soaking in the memorable winter landscape.

When nighttime rolls around but you're not quite ready to retire to your lodging, head into a beautiful snow covered forest for a relaxing sleigh ride. Snuggle up under the blankets as you listen to the sleigh bells jingling and the hooves clacking for an enchanting and endearing evening. Whether you only want to head out for a short trip or make an entire evening out of the adventure with a dinner ride, there are numerous outfitters available to whisk you away for a comfortable night.

While you may already be planning all the exciting activities you want to participate in, locating the perfect accommodations is a necessity if you want to experience a memorable ski adventure. Big Sky vacation rentals are cozy, comfortable, and provide all the amenities of home so you can enjoy everything you love about this stunning mountain town without losing out on the comforts you are used to. Enjoy breathtaking mountain views, bubbling hot tubs, and a variety of other amenities such as a washer and dryer and a fully-stocked kitchen when you select the house, condo, or cabin rental that is right for you. Begin your search for the perfect vacation rental today so you can slip into a convenient and relaxing vacation tomorrow.

Do you ever get back from a fantastic holiday disappointed with the photos you've taken? Do your holiday snaps fail to live up to the exotic locations you visited? Blurred objects, wonky horizons, subjects with parts cropped off to mention but a few of the commonest ailments.

Well don't worry. With a little help and advice we can all take pictures of which we can be justifiably proud. It does not matter how basic your camera is, it is the person that takes great photos not the camera. Good results can be achieved even with the camera in a mobile phone if some basic guidelines are followed.

Over the last couple of years I have really come to appreciate the photos I take when I am on holiday. They bring back so many memories of the good times with friends and family and also of the places, people and things we have seen. If a photo captures the atmosphere of the time and location it can be wonderfully evocative of some of our happiest times.

This article is about taking better holiday photos but there are a couple of things I should mention first with regard to travelling with a camera. I'll be brief so here they are.

Make sure you have adequate insurance both for yourself and your belongings especially if you have an expensive camera, even basic digital models can be fairly pricey. Cameras are not affected by X-ray machines so you can pack them in hand luggage without worry. Make sure they are adequately protected if packed in your main luggage such as wrapping in towels and being placed in the centre of your suitcase, although if it is here it will not be available for photo opportunities en route.

Also, if you are travelling with a digital camera be sure to take enough memory for storing the photographs you take. A spare memory card and battery are a good idea in case of failures. Keep your camera clean and in good order by getting a carrying case and taking a camera lens cleaning cloth or glasses cleaning cloth.

So you have arrived and you have a clean, working camera with plenty of power and memory. Here are my top tips for great holiday photos.

Get sharp pictures by avoiding camera shake. Frame your shot, control your breathing

During the communist reign in Russia, architectural styles could best be described as bland. Fortunately, the summer palace of Peter the Great wasn't affected.

Peterhof

Known as Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a very impressive area. The palace is arranged with a central rectangle format over roughly two or three acres. This area is then surrounded by areas of wood and "nature" as the Russians call it. Peterhof stands out like a jewel among the bland communist structures found in greater St. Petersburg.

Fountains, Fountains, Fountains

At the time of construction in 1715, Peter the Great was clearly in his "fountain" phase. Peterhof isn't so much a palace as a collection of some of the most impressive fountains you've ever seen. There are fountains in the front, back, each side, in the bathroom and so on. All of them are impressive and worth a look.

Foremost of the fountains of Peterhof is the Great Cascade. Arriving from St. Petersburg by boat, one is offloaded on a long pier at the end of the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal cuts through the woods surrounding Peterhof directly to the front of the palace. As you proceed, you start to notice something big and colorful at the front of the palace. Welcome to the Great Cascade.

The Great Cascade sites at the base of Peterhof and is more impressive than the palace. Created in the Baroque style, the Great Cascade is hard to describe. At its base is a pool a large pool with rock platforms crowned by golden statutes spouting water. Rising up from the pool to the palace are two sets of steps surrounding a plateau. The steps are a combination of black marble inlaid with gold and white marble. The steps are crowned with statues and, again, fountains, which make them a combination of sprouting water and cascading falls. All of this is built up on a collection of rock and rises over 30 feet to the base of the palace. As I said, the Great Cascade is hard to describe. If you would like to see it, just do a search for "Peterhof" on your search engine of choice.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Great Cascade is the power source. With fountains blowing water thirty to fifty feet in the air, there must be some serious pump action at work? Nope. Peter the Great created a system that runs entirely off gravity. Great, indeed!

Day trips to Peterhof are hocked something fierce in St. Petersburg. While I usually disdain tourist traps, this is one you should definitely see.

The mist is seeping off the ocean coast in Lima