Never having been exposed to Asian languages I felt thoroughly confused by Korean writing when first encountering it. It helped having an English translation under the Hangeul words everywhere I looked so it was not long before I had some Korean place names committed to memory. I then began to learn the Korean alphabet and how to pronounce the letters. As I walked to the subway and down the street I often read Korean words aloud and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered English words written in Korean. I could understand these but Chinese characters used in Korean (Hanja) were a different story. I eagerly bought books on the subject though and began devouring the meanings of Chinese characters.

Korean food is very spicy. Koreans use a lot of red pepper paste and hot sauce. Koreans love spicy food so much they will eat powdered sauce on its own. Noodles are a popular snack food and each packet has a sachet of powdered sauce inside which you flavor the noodles with. I saw Koreans eating just this sauce and then gasp for water because they had burnt their mouths. Seafood, rice and seaweed are main staples in the Korean diet. Rice and meat wrapped in seaweed is an appetizing meal and very cheap. I was not game enough to eat live octopus which were kept in tanks outside fish restaurants. You just walk in, choose your fish and the establishment cooks it (or not) for you. If this is not your thing there is lots of western food available such as pizza which Koreans absolutely love. There are literally dozens of pizza stores around including international chain stores like Dominos and Pizza Hut offering tremendous variety in the way of pizza toppings. The prices vary so it pays to shop around. I think my favorite Korean food has to be pizza (‘It’s Yammy’ was one sign that I saw) and my least favorite would have to be silkworms.

In Korea there are so many people and such a lack of space that the vast majority live in eighteen storey buildings. There is no such thing as individual sections over there. You have flower and vegetable gardens outside the apartment blocks and play areas for the children. These things are communal and are for the use of all, not just one particular family. I remember buses and trains sometimes being so full of people I had to stand for most of the journey. I was glad when the vehicle stopped, the doors opened and everyone poured out onto the street or platform. There was finally some room to move.

In this article I have offered you a brief glimpse of my life in South Korea. On the map Korea as a whole looks tiny but in reality it is a big country in terms of population and economic power. The country is a melting pot of ideas and languages, a mix of eastern and western food, roads are clogged with vehicles and it seems there are skyscrapers everywhere you look. In Korea civilization is never far away from you. How different that is to New Zealand and how long it took for this kiwi to come to grips with one of Asia’s tigers.

Hedley Benge

Hedley Benge has taught English in South Korea for two years and also has a background in information management. He has recently begun a career as a freelance journalist. Hedley’s webpage is http://hedleybenge.biz/ and he offers ghostwriting services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hedley_Benge

Want to visit Korea? Do so via Club Freedom.

As is often the case, we decide at the very last minute if we can get away or not. This time, it looks good and Victor wants to go to the State Fair. I am not sure why, but if anything grabs his attention, I like to do it. We also have to pick up some stuff from SF and decide to leave Tuesday afternoon for the California State Fair, spend the night on the Delta King in Old town Sacramento then hustle off to San Francisco in the morning and back to Groveland by the evening.

So off we go, leaving the hotel at 2, we plan to be at the fair by 4:30. We get as far as Oakdale before stop at the busy Beacon for gas. Getting the gas is no problem, but the van won’t start again afterward. Victor reminds me that he thought he told me we needed to change the alternator. So now I have, for the first time in my life, enjoyed the pleasures of pushing a vehicle to affect a rolling start. Once the vehicle is going fast enough that you think you can’t catch it if it gets away, Victor jumps in and tries to pop it into gear. We aren’t successful. In fact we aren’t successful 5 times. It’s 100+ degrees, the road is flat and cars constantly flowing into and out of this gas station manuevering around our stalled and now wrong directioned vehicle. This is not the best moment of my life. After a half dozen failed starts we get help pushing from some very nice gentlemen who may have themselves been in this position at some point in their lives. Success!

Now we are headed through Oakdale and Victor suggests a stop at the Kragen Auto Parts shop, and asks that I remind him NOT to turn off the van. I do. I remind him again and again and he doesn’t turn the van off. We get the part, toss it in the back of the van and start rolling towards 99. We like the back roads and “shortcuts” and so head into Stockton via the central valley maize maze. Finally on highway 99 and under an hour from our goal Victor mentions that all of the gauges seemed to have stopped working and the van isn’t driving right….maybe we should stop? Do you know the emptiness north of Stockton, before Elk Grove? This is where we roll into a commuter parking area and blessedly find a big tree to provide shade while “Maguiver” replaces the alternator. I reread a previously read magazine.

I hear mumbles over the next hour and a half such as: “where’s my something or other tool” and “$#@!” but am confident that eventually we will head somewhere….I have triple A.

There really were only a few moments when even Maguiver lost his confidence, like the moment he couldn’t find the right tool and couldn’t think of anything that could be rigged up to fill in for the missing tool (not that this was any reason to not try!) and when he fussed for half an hour trying to get the new alternator to push into position and it wouldn’t until he jammed his little finger up there, then it popped right in, but his finger wasn’t all that happy.

So now we are ready to go, but we have to do another one of those running starts, this time with no hope of helpers. But we do it and he is all a grin and quietly I file away my AAA card for the next time. Did I mention this van doesn’t have air conditioning? So the only release from the 100+ degree heat we have is driving with the windows open and the breeze cools as it dries the sweat that is seeping from our every cell. Well, now its rush hour and the road is bumper to bumper, stop, roll a few feet, repeat. No breeze!

I suggest we just head to the hotel for a cooling shower and nice dinner. We can skip the fair. This is when the “motivation” for the fair as a destination makes itself clear: Wine! I should have know it wasn’t the midway, the rides, the music, the screaming kids….Victor wanted to see who medalled at the fair and if there were new finds to be had. I saw no need to argue with this.

So off we go, along with everyone else to the Fair. This is such a huge venue, I can’t imagine how many people are inside the gates at one single moment. The attractions are endless from the performance stages to the motor cross route to the rides, games of change, the County building, the farm displays and the list goes on and on. We never felt crowded, but we knew we weren’t alone.

We wander our way to the wine center and mosey up to the bar for an overview. We are an easy couple to work with as we are only tasting whites and are looking for specific selections to fill out our Cafe Charlotte menu. We taste the top rated Chardonnays, very sweet this year. We try a Sauvignon Blanc, more sweetness. Seems to be a theme running through the show. Sweeter is better? Not for us. Best of Show was 2-buck Chuck, the Trader Joe’s exclusive Charles Shaw, Chardonnay. This has brought about a great deal of interesting speculation on the process, the judges, the wine….but isn’t our choice for tasting today.

In an hour and for the price of parking, two entrances fees, two little glasses of wine each, the wine guide and 3 bottles of water and $70 later, we are out of the Fair grounds and headed into old town Sacramento where the Delta King awaits on the river for a shower and dinner. As we are parking the van I note to Victor that his front tire is low. By the time we are completely parked, it is sitting square on the ground…flat. Okay, and yes, the spare is in the basement, of course. None of this really bothers me since we discovered fix-a-flat a few years ago. We check in at the floating hotel and have reception call us a cab to take us to the nearest auto parts store where for $37 we get a nice roundtrip “tour” of downtown and two cans of the trusty spray.

Dinner on the Delta King is delicious. We order the calamari to start and the sauces are both wonderful. I get the seabass for dinner, Victor orders the steak and we are both pleased with our choices. We have an after dinner glass of wine on the veranda and very much enjoy the outdoor setting and private time that is so often missing from our Charlotte life.

The next morning we head back into the restaurant for breakfast only to learn after a great deal of discussion that breakfast is no longer part of the Bed, Boat & Breakfast formula. Odd, it was last time we were there and conspicuoulsy not mentioned upon reserving nor at check in. I don’t mind that they aren’t including breakfast, I do mind that they failed to mention this to a repeat guest who might be anticipating breakfast.

So we head out to take care of our flat tire and find some good coffee and a bite before heading into SF. Vic whips out his can of fix-a-flat, attaches the hose and we both watch as the air rushes right back out through the gaping crevasse in the tire. Thank goodness I have that triple A card! We call and are soon on our way with two new front tires.

We change our plans and just decide to go home, it is too blazing hot for 7 hours on the road and well, there is just a lot of stuff to do. So off we head south on 99. I am reading the wine guide when Victor asks me if he should take Grant Line Road. I really don’t care. He says it comes out at Manteca. So Easterly we head for about an hour. Seems longer than it should be without any identifying features. I am almost done reading the wine guide. Looking up I see a sign that says Freeway left. That isn’t possible. The freeway can only be behind us and in front would be highway 49 if anything….Hmmmm, so where are we? Eldorado Hills. Guess what, we are headed to Tahoe. Great! I suggest maybe we just to, head over the Sierra, hit 395 south to 120 and over Tioga Pass. He thinks I am crazy. We head to Placerville and get on 49 South. All is well.

Until we hit Shingletown and miss the 49 left turn. We figure whatever we are on will eventually loop around, by the shadows, t looks to be going in the right direction…..Driving, driving, and we finally reach the next town…Eldorado Hills. Isn’t this exciting! Perhaps we should buy some property here, the town seems to have some sort of natural draw.

We are now both tired and hot and have 3 hours to go. Maybe we should have gone to SF! We finally make it back home to the comforts of the Hotel Charlotte HotelCharlotte.com and settle into our usual tasks of keeping the hotel up to snuff. I have agreed with myself that I will never take a distance ride in that Van again. Living with the creative skills of a Maguiver is wonderful, but my Maquiver has developed a level of quiet confidence such that troubles others avoid with simple, but regular checks often become our next fix-it challenge and I will always carry a triple A card in my wallet.

Lynn Upthagrove, along with her husband Victor, own the Hotel Charlotte, a 10 room Bed and Breakfast hotel in Groveland, on the way to Yosemite National Park. http://www.HotelCharlotte.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Upthagrove

Get paid to take a vacation.

Central Cemetery
It may sound strange to visit a cemetery while on vacation but this is Europe’s largest (with over 2.5 million graves) and the final resting place of many of the classical music masters. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (commemorative grave), Johann (Sr. and Jr.) and Josef Strauss are a few names. Admission is free

Clock Museum, Beethoven Pasqualatihaus, Prater Museum

These are some of the many museums and places of interest having free days (usually Sunday).

The Clock Museum (Uhrenmuseum) hosts some of the most beautiful clocks in the world.

The Beethoven Pasqualatihaus is where Ludwig Van Beethoven lived and worked for many years. It includes some of his personal items.

Looking for the weird and the wonderful? Then stop in at the Prater Museum. There is a fortune-telling machine, the famous ventriloquist doll named Max, a dragon from a grotto ride and items from the freak and sensation shows of the past.

Christmas Markets

Vienna holds many festivals and special events throughout the year from free performances of classical music during the summer to spectacular New Year’s celebrations.

However, the ideal time for travelers to be in Vienna would be December. From the end of November until Christmas Day, Christmas markets are held throughout the city. City Hall hosts the classic market with lights and artwork decorating the trees. Stalls are set up with handicrafts and food. What to sample? The mulled cider or wine and the gingerbread.

Admission is free. The Christmas Markets are very busy (be wary of pickpockets) and are a great way to mix with locals.

The Spanish Riding School

One of the main reasons we went to Vienna was to visit the Spanish Riding School, home of the famous white Lipizzan stallions, the ballerinas of the horse world. The evening performance is quite expensive (but worth it for horse lovers) and can sell out. However, if travelers merely want to sneak a peek as the horses run through their paces, the morning exercise is less costly.

Vienna, with its free days at museums, beautiful parks, and many, many festivals, offers so much for the frugal traveler that it is almost overwhelming.

For more frugal travel tips on Vienna or other cities, visit http://www.freephotooftheday.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimber_Chin
Did you hear the story of a man who went through the cemetery in Vienna at night and heard strange sounds emanating from a crypt? The next day he spoke to a worker at the cemetery and told him about the incident. The worker then told him that the sounds were the sounds of Strauss de-composing.

You can have your own tall stories to tell when you join Club Freedom.

In reality a holiday abroad starts when you leave the comfort and security of your front door. You have the travel to the airport, the waiting for your plane followed by the eager anticipation of the luggage collection. If all goes to plan nothing will be broken and you can unpack, enjoy your resort, make friends with some locals and relax. On occasions however you can fall ill by the mistake of drinking a nice cool something (with ice) or by choosing a “fresh” salad that’s been washed in the local gutter. Joking aside if you do fall ill with something more serious you need to make sure you have your new E111 card and your travel insurance handy. Without these a relaxing holiday break can quickly turn into a costly nightmare.

If you do manage to escape the health landmines away from home another worry can be security. When you travel abroad you tend to bring a lot of cash, travellers cheques and of course your passport and if you lose any of these items you can be in real trouble if again you don’t have a simple document that can sometimes slip your mind.

Travel insurance is something that should be purchased in advance but these days the internet is faster and more secure than ever and you can buy online the day before you leave. The process is very painless and involves choosing the dates of your travels followed by a short form with your personal details on. The best part of the process is the price, you can buy single trip travel insurance for under £6.00 per person which is nothing considering the level of protection you receive.

When I go on holiday I buy my travel insurance at http://www.travelinsuranceweb.com and I suggest you do the same.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matthew_Ridout

Save money on vacations – Join Club Freedom.

There are a few negative aspects to Mexico City as well such as drabness, poverty and suffocating crowds. But, in spite of these negatives, Mexico City holds a lot of attraction for the tourists as well as the domestic Mexican visitor. The weather in Mexico City is of the temperate kind throughout the year and gets just a bit nippy in the nights from around November through to February. The months from February to March are ones when the Jacarandas bloom and the season is perfect for a tour of the city.

The tourists are advised to book their rooms in advance in the Mexico City hotels to ensure they do not face any last minute hassles with regards to their accommodation needs. This is all the more essential at the time of the holiday period such as Semana Santa and Christmas. The New Year period is celebrated with much fanfare and the atmosphere is jovial which will really be an enjoyable time for the tourists. October, however rules the roost as it is perhaps the best time to visit Mexico City when the rains of the summer have abated and everything is still green all round.

It is generally recommended to the travelers to prefer eating fresh food prepared hot and in their view so that no unnecessary hassles crop up. And, even though one might be tempted to try out raw seafood such as ceviche and oysters which is easily available, it is recommended that one should avoid such food as is very often contaminated which might result in sickness for the tourists. Enjoy the warm hospitality of Mexico City hotels for a truly memorable experience of the capital city of Mexico.

Paul Thomas is an associate editor of http://www.stayresmexico.com The website offers exclusive information of Mexico and hotels in Mexico. We also provide online hotel reservation of Mexico City hotels. We appreciate your feedback and queries at info@stayresmexico.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_Thomas

When can you afford to travel there?

A few kilometers west my trail joined up with the Don Valley biking trail and I started to ride south. But instead of heading all the way down to Toronto’s lakefront, I saw an old road branching off to the right north of Pottery Road and I thought I would just ride in there and see what I could discover. I had never before left the main trail and was curious to explore this new area. Actually, I thought I would arrive at the Don Valley Brickworks, the leftovers of an industrial brick making complex dating back to the late 1880s that was closed down some time ago. The bricks from this quarry were used on many famous Toronto landmarks, including Casa Loma, Osgoode Hall and Queens Park (the Ontario Legislature building). The green space surrounding the empty buildings has been turned into a public park by the city.

But as I continued the road turned into a narrow pathway that crossed a field and the path started taking me in a northwesterly direction, away from the Brickworks. Now I was really wondering where this path was going to lead. After crossing some more meadows the path took me into a forested area where the narrow trail continued, sometimes over roots and stones, sometimes beside some railway tracks. Now you might think that it could be quite dangerous for a woman by herself riding these trails, but I actually felt quite safe. The only people I encountered were a father and daughter team who were enjoying their own little mountain bike adventure.

I kept riding through the forest, up and down and at some point I saw a road just above the embankment that I was cycling beside, but my suspense grew as to where I would actually end up. Finally I saw an opening in a fence at the edge of the forest and I realized I had popped up at the southeastern end of the Loblaws Supermarket in Leaside. This was quite a bit further north than I had anticipated.

So back on city streets I decided to ride through the residential area of Leaside, one of the most popular residential areas in Toronto. Settled as early as the beginning of the 19th century by the Lea family, the Town of Leaside came into being in 1913. Today many houses from the early 20th century remain and are being renovated or expanded. Leaside has become particularly popular with real estate investors who buy some of the small single story bungalows and convert them into two or three story mansions.

Bayview Avenue marks the western boundary of Leaside and is a popular entertainment area with lots of retail stores, cafes and restaurants. I cycled south on Bayview to the Intersection of Moore Avenue where there is a local landmark: a concrete moose that is located in front of a company called IntegraCare, a private nursing company.

From April to October of 2000, the City of Toronto was graced by 172 moose sculptures that were located all over the city and painted and decorated by local artists. The event was called “Moose in the City” and similar in idea to other animal sculpture campaigns in places such as Chicago, Mexico City etc. After the completion of the campaign the moose were auctioned off for charitable purposes and more than 75 local charities benefit from this unique fundraising idea. Events like “Toronto’s Running of the Moose!” and “Moose Jam on City Streets” enlivened the campaign and entertained the public.

I figured Integracare must have purchased one of these moose sculptures and after doing some research on the Internet I found out that the moose’s name is “Florence Moosengale, RM (Registered Moose)”, her name obviously inspired by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Three Integracare employees regularly create new costumes for the moose which has been dressed up as Santa Clause, a witch for Halloween, a pink Easter Bunny, a prison inmate, a lady bug, and in many other outfits. Currently Florence is dressed up as a rider in the Tour de France, complete with a yellow jersey and an oversized bicycle.

Well, this moose always makes me chuckle and I truly applaud the efforts of the three ladies at Integracare in brightening up the intersection of Bayview and Moore Avenue. From here I rode into the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto’s largest cemetery which stretches from Bayview Avenue in the east to Yonge Street in the west. Originally conceived in 1873, the cemetery opening in late 1876 and became the final resting place for more than 160,000 Toronto citizens.

The cemetery holds many local celebrities, including Frederick Banting – the co-discoverer of insulin, Timothy Eaton – a Canadian department store magnate, Hart Massey – a 19th century tycoon in the farm equipment business, Robert Simpson – another Canadian department store magnate, pianist Glenn Gould and W. Garfield Weston, a business magnate and member of one of Canada’s most wealthy families. By accident I came across the grave of William Lyon Mackenzie King, one of Canada’s longest-serving and most influential prime ministers.

Although inline-skating is prohibited it is possible to ride a bicycle in the cemetery and many people also use this beautiful environment to go walking or jogging. The gravestones in the western, older section of the cemetery are particularly beautiful, and its large tree collection makes it one of North America’s finest arboretums. Many large flower gardens, sculptures and memorials add to the beauty of this location. While I reloaded my camera with a new memory card, an elderly gentleman with a walker stopped and educated me about the fact that this cemetery features countless different species of trees and pointed out a rare Gingko tree, a species that I did not even realize grew in Canada.

I then crossed Yonge Street and rode west along Heath Street in order to avoid the busy traffic along St. Clair Avenue. The surrounding Forest Hill neighbourhood is one of Toronto’s most affluent areas. Today many huge mansions grace the neighbourhood and two elite private schools, Upper Canada College for boys, and the Bishop Strachan School, a prestigious day and boarding school for girls, are also located here.

Underneath the canopy of leafy trees I turned onto a street called Lower Village Gate and unexpectedly found myself in Toronto’s Ravine system. One of the most distinctive features of Toronto’s topography is a multitude of deep ravines that criss-cross the city, have remained largely untouched by development and provide a natural oasis in this densely populated metropolis. These ravines were formed when rivers and creeks cut deep gouges into the glacial deposits that were left over after the last ice age about 12,000 years ago. Due to the danger of flooding these ravines are largely uninhabitable and have remained virtually completely in their natural state. Today, Toronto’s ravine lands are protected by municipal bylaws.

Cedarvale Park is located in one of those ravines and riding westwards I looked up to admire the structure of the Bathurst Street Bridge. I arrived at the western end of Cedarvale Park where a cricket match was in full swing. Back on city streets I cycled south into a St. Clair West neighbourhood called Hillcrest Village which was just celebrating Latin culture with its big annual festival: Salsa on St. Clair.

First launched in 2005 Salsa on St. Clair has become a popular street festival that features all sorts of Latin music performances, street vendors, Latin American delicacies and special events. Salsa lessons, jumping castles, children’s soccer competitions and all sorts of free samples and giveaways enchanted the crowds.

From here I cycled south on Christie Street and then headed over to Ossington and south to Queen Street. In a small neighbourhood park I ran across a large group of teenagers dressed up as medieval knights who were practicing their jousting skills. Sometimes Toronto is truly like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re gonna get…Once on Queen Street I cycled past recently renovated landmarks like the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone Hotel into the Parkdale neighbourhood, one of the most colourful areas in Toronto.

In the late 1800 Parkdale was an upscale residential suburb of Toronto that featured great Victorian mansions and superb views of Lake Ontario. The neighbourhood underwent a serious decline and today features a large amount of low-income housing. The Parkdale Village area close to Lake Ontario became one of Toronto’s poorest neighbourhoods and in the mid 1980s many mental patients that were discharged from the Queen Street Psychiatric Hospital ended up in the low rental housing in this neighbourhood.

Today the neighbourhood is being revitalized due to its beautiful architecture, established trees and favourable location close to downtown and Lake Ontario. Signs of gentrification are noticeable everywhere.

The Victorian mansions on Cowan Avenue impressed me and as I got closer to the Lake I can only imagine what a beautiful residential district this must have been in its heyday. I crossed the railway tracks and the Gardener Expressway near Jameson Avenue and arrived at the multi-purpose trail in Marilyn Bell Park on Toronto’s lakefront. From here I joined the substantial crowd of bicyclists and inline skaters and headed west to Sunnyside Beach.

Close to a century ago this was one of the most popular areas in Toronto and featured a large amusement park from 1922 onwards. The area was drastically changed in the 1950s with the construction of the Gardiner Expressway which essentially reduced the parkland in half and led to the destruction of the amusement park. Today, the only original buildings remaining from this era are the Palais Royale (a recently restored ballroom and banquet facility), and the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion which houses a popular waterfront café.

Despite these changes, Toronto’s western waterfront in Humber Bay is hugely popular with people. Walkers, picnickers, inline skaters and bikers make extensive use of the Waterfront Trail. Three beach volleyball nets grace the narrow strip of sand in front of the café and a boardwalk made from recycled plastic invites for a walk on the waterfront. I grabbed myself a slice of pizza and relaxed a bit on bench, watching the comings and goings in a beautiful sunny spot by the water.

I then started heading eastwards along the Waterfront Trail past Ontario Place, a multi-purpose entertainment and seasonal amusement park. Opened in 1971 Ontario Place consists of three artificial islands that feature walking trails, food and drink concessions, an IMAX theatre located in a geodesic dome-shaped structure, an amusement park for children and an outdoor concert facility, the Molson Amphitheatre.

Immediately adjacent to Ontario Place is Coronation Park, a park centered around a royal oak tree that was planted in tribute to King George VI. Right in front of the park is a marina that houses hundreds of sailboats. Cycling further east I passed by the recently renovated Tip Top Tailor Building, a historic property built in 1929 in true Art Deco style. This building was recently completely restored and has been converted into loft condominiums.

From here I snaked onto Queen’s Quay and made a stop at the Toronto Music Garden, a waterfront garden that was inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello and designed by internationally renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy. The Toronto Music Garden features spiral-shaped walkways surrounded by lush shrubs and flowers and is highlighted by an outdoor amphitheatre that offers free concerts to the public. As I was riding by, dozens of music enthusiasts were sitting in the outdoor concert facility, intently listening to a free classical concert.

My ride continued to Harbourfront, a popular entertainment area at Toronto’s waterfront. Harbourfront Centre, a former warehouse, today holds a high-end shopping centre, commercial office spaces and condominiums. The bottom level also features restaurants and outdoor patios that look out on the docking facilities for the many tourist boats that depart from here for harbour tours.

Free concerts are held every weekend at Harbourfront on the Concert Stage while the World Café and the International Marketplace feature foods and merchandise from around the world. Additional cultural offerings are provided by the Power Plant Gallery, the Premiere Dance Theatre, the Enwave Theatre and the York Quay Centre. A Cuban music group was enchanting the crowd at the Concert Stage. I pushed my bike a bit further east and sat down with an ice cream to enjoy the beautiful view across the harbour to the Toronto Islands and to watch the colourful promenade of people strolling by.

Finally, after an action-packed day full of explorations and almost 60 km of riding I got on my iron horse one last time to make the 45 minute trek home along Toronto’s lakefront. Summer in Toronto is amazing; I had cycled from secluded nature areas, through a Victorian-era cemetery to a Latin festival, enjoyed the waterfront and caught two more free concerts in or near Harbourfront. There is so much going on in this city in the summer and the bicycle is the ideal way to explore it.

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions. Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences & interesting life journeys, interviews with travellers and travel experts, cross-cultural issues, and many other features.

Susanne has recently published a series of FREE travel ebooks about destinations such as Spain, Cuba, Mexico, Sicily, New York City, Chicago, Montreal, Toronto, Nova Scotia and many more. Visit http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html Travel and Transitions – FREE ebooks http://www.travelandtransitions.com/ebooks.html “Life is a Journey – Explore New Horizons”.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher

Riding bicycles could be fun [but could result in a sore backside]. However, I am at the stage where I prefer the luxury of vacations that can be obtained through Club Freedom.

Our cozy bungalow

We eventually arrived at our accommodation, The Villa Blanche, after our boat trip. It was everything I was hoping for. A cozy little bungalow, which isn’t too fancy, but still had all the luxuries one expects when you want to relax on your holiday. Nevertheless, I knew I wasn’t going to spend much time in our bungalow, because one thing was for sure, I was determined to go home with my best holiday tan ever. And what better place to get a dream tan than on a paradise island, lying stretched out beneath the African sun?

There is something about the African sun. Personally I believe that you can’t have a happy life without spending some good quality time in the sun. Just another reason why I love my job as a photographer, but this week was my week of relaxation, and except for capturing my holiday moments, I wasn’t going to spend any time away from the heavenly beach.

Palm trees and sunny skies

Almost every morning, Jess and I got up as early as possible to spend some good quality time in the sun. No matter how tempting it is to overindulge, the truth of the matter is that even if you live in Africa, her sun can burn you badly.

It was February which meant rainfalls at night and balmy humidity by day, but in my mind’s eye it was just perfect! Spending lazy days on the long stretch of white beach and making the most of the warm weather was what I had set out to do.

On the island of Nosy Be you can find beaches stretching for as far as the eye can see, lined by palm trees, making it an ideal location for an island style holiday.

We had our deck chairs set up on our bungalow’s deck, and with a cocktail in one hand and a book in the other we left all our worldly worries behind. Yes, this is the life. With such a relaxed environment we just had to make sure we didn’t fall asleep while lying in the sun, as one would surely regret it in the most painful way once you pick up a bit of sunstroke from being in the sun too long and unprotected.

A little reserved

On one of our attempts to do more than lazing around, we decided to go on an African safari to the Lokobe Reserve and of course I had my camera handy for any Kodak moments that might occur. We didn’t see anything for the first half-hour or so, but then we got lucky. Hiding far up in one of Madagascar’s many trees was a female black lemur cradling her little one safely in her arms. How Jess managed to spot her I still don’t know, but it was obvious that she was alone and shy.

There are so many varieties of Lemur in the forests, that we saw quite a few on the remainder of our hike. Very playful, and so noisy! Chameleons were almost just as abundant as the lemurs. If it weren’t for our guide, we would never have spotted them all! The colourful butterflies provided much animation for us and its really a birder’s paradise. Not to forget the stunning flora. Especially the beautiful Baobab trees.

After our adventurous expedition, and capturing Madagascar’s local animal pride on film, we headed back to our lodge for a well deserved Moroccan styled feast.

Not only was our stay at The Villa Blanche perfect for an African safari getaway, but the lodge’s set up is the ideal relaxed holiday getaway.

Nothing revitalizes the soul like a few lazy days in the sun, surrounded by the most pristine presence of nature. http://www.wydahtours.com/index.asp

Wydah Tours has a variety of African safari lodges, just perfect for a week or two’s getaway in one of Africa’s most beautiful destinations.

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Florence hotels near Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral

Dipped in the maze of the ancient streets of the historical centre, Piazza del Duomo is Florence spiritual heart, housing San Giovanni Baptistery and the city Cathedral. The Dome, with its Cupola distinguishing Florence’s skyline, has been realized by Brunelleschi over 14 years, and finally consecrated to Santa Maria del Fiore by pope Eugenio IV. Giotto’s bell Tower, 84 meters high adorned by statues and bas-reliefs, brightens with white, red and green marbles this marvellous square.

Benefits – if your looking for museums and monuments and don’t care for busy streets and noises, this is simply the best location in Florence.

Florence hotels near Station

Florence central train station is located the historical centre. The architectural structure was designed in 1930 with the outline of Fascio Littorio, Fascism’s main symbol. The Santa Maria Novella station is probably the main work of the Rationalism group: the building is modern in its stile but has also a classic look for the white-stone stone facade.

Advantages – this location is easily attainable with every means of transport, and you can always take a train to visit Florence surrounding areas (like Chianti or Maremma).

Florence hotels near the banks of the river Arno

The river Arno originates in the Apennines and crosses the historical centre of Florence, where passes more than 10 ancient bridges (the most famous is Ponte Vecchio -the only surviving from the second World War). The Arno river’s last flood was in 1966.

Plus – A romantic and quiet location, crossing all the historical centre. Many hotels feature rooms with the most evocative views of the historical centre.

Florence hotels near the hills surrounding Florence (Fiesole)

The hills surrounding Florence offer a privileged point of view on this marvellous city. Fiesole, with its IX century b.C foundation, still shows ancient Etruscan ruins and features the most spectacular view of Florence.

Advantages – the ideal place for nature lovers, you can enjoy at the same time Florence historical centre and Tuscany countryside.

Before you choose where to stay, discover the special offers of Hotel Ungherese Florence

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When in Florence you must check out the fine leather goods available there. Before you book your holiday check out the benefits of Club Freedom.

Waikiki at some point of everyday enjoys perfect walking weather, some days early in the morning, in the winter in the midday sun, or if you want to catch the fireworks on Friday nights, the evenings are almost always perfect, basically what you would expect for paradise.

The degree of difficulty is very easy! You will find drinking water faucets in many locations on the walk and if you get tired you can always walk a couple of blocks and catch a taxi or a bus in Waikiki, to any place in Waikiki or Honolulu. This walking tour is basically flat with most of the walk on sidewalks with very few streets to cross, considering that you are in the middle of the 14th largest city in the USA. As a treat bring your bathing suit and you can take a shower in several locations after a swim in the perfect temperature ocean water of Hawaii.

Bring a hat and sun screen not needed at night. The only danger you are likely to encounter is a mischievous local giving direction that start off with something like this “go to the ABC Store “bra” and turn left till you get to “da kind” white Out Rigger hotel “bra”, then turn right two blocks to “da kind” ABC Store in the white Out Rigger hotel “garens bra””

Honolulu is on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu. Waikiki basically encompasses everything inside of the Ali Wai cannel with Diamondhead and the Pacific Ocean making the other borders.

To begin the tour you can start walking from the ocean at the beginning of the Ali Wai where it drains into the ocean and walk toward Diamondhead, when you hit Kapiolani Ave turn right towards the fire house and then follow the outskirts of Kapiolani park veering towards the left; At the other ocean end of Kapiolani, right after you have walked under Diamondhead, where the tennis courts and archery range are located, you will come to a junction, turn right and follow the ocean and you will get back to your starting point. For a bonus walk 1 block extra and you are at the worlds largest open air mall Ala Moana.

You are probably a little tired after your walk and deserve a cool treat have an ice cream cone at Dave’s ice cream in the Ala Manoa mall and lets reflect a little on what you have seen. Starting at the Ala Wai Cannel on the left you have the beautiful Manoa valley with the Waikiki sky line on the right past the fire station past Diamondhead which has a great hike all its own, through Kapiolani park, one of the best city parks in the world, Past the aquarium, the zoo, and all the Waikiki beaches. You have walked past world class shopping with names like Neiman Marcus, Prada, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger, cruised by all the 5 star Waikiki Luxury hotels, past the War museum at Fort DeRussy, into the Hilton Hawaiian Village over to the Ali Wai boat harbor, man we saw allot, “Dave, make that a double!”

Fred Tittle has lived and worked in holiday vacation resorts his entire life, from Lake Geneva’s Playboy Club, as a ski bum and rock jock for KSPN FM in Aspen Colorado, he became a PADI Pro Scuba Diver in Hawaii, enjoying adventure diving on Maui, Kauai, Kona on the big island, and Waikiki on Oahu. He now owns EcoSea.com which offers cheap Asia hotels, discount flights & airfares and budget friendly eco adventures. Fred is based in Sihanoukville & Phnom Penh Cambodia. Fred also finds time for teaching SSI and PADI scuba diving courses and organizes liveaboards in the Gulf of Thailand as well as Asian adventure tours, http://www.ecosea.com

Fred’s new project http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com where he reviews cheap hotels , budget guesthouses, discount accommodations and really cheap international flights, but is really an excuse to get deals on scuba diving adventures and discounts for Asia holiday vacations .

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Nature, climate and history created the place of unique unforgettable beauty that is difficult to grasp but that never fails to attract due to its greenery of lush vegetation against the emerald-azure spanless sea. Hanging over the steep cliffs and at times reaching the water edge the green cover tinges the magnificent golden sand in its colour mixing with the yellow earth and the main scenery far from the shore. The annual average temperature here is 16C, precipitation is temperate and the sun is shining in the sky for 2500 hours in a year lightening the arty-historical places, which remind about the distinguished past of this area.

However all these features are only visible and tangible lineaments of local life possessing the hidden pulse and awaiting you to discover it for yourselves. Beaches, bays, steeps and forests are situated amidst the famous places, among them – S’Agaro, Tossa de Mar, Begur, Lloret de Mar, Cadaques and Portlligat.

Number of people consider Tossa de Mar to be one of the most delightful resorts. Lloret de Mar is also very popular but it is too commercial and developed that is a disadvantage for some tourists. Remote Cadaques is the most untainted and pure place. It also is possible to spend the enjoyable time in other smaller settlements.

Modern and developed tourist infrastructure turned Costa Brava into one of the most attractive directions for travelling and rest. It is better to travel here in May, June, September or October. The biggest flow of tourists that occupy almost all the hotels is noted in July and August.

Iuri Tarabanov writes about interesting travel experiences. His Travel Reservations site is http://www.travelime.com

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