Insta Travel

When you pack your bags to explore new sights or to relax your senses by surrounding yourself with a different culture, you should know how to make your travel a vacation you will never forget. If you plan a trip, it’s worth taking the time before departure to get yourself organized. Doing so can save you both time and stress.

Though traveling by car isn’t always the fastest way to get where you’re going. But it can be among the most flexible ways to go, as you get to determine your own schedule, stops, and destination. You also get the luxury of more flexibility in terms of how much luggage you bring and how neatly it needs to be packed.

A little preparation can make a big difference in how enjoyable traveling with your kids can be. There are many travel sites that are just designed to help you out in proper planning while you travel by car.

America’s byways:

The site helps you in planning the route. It is dedicated to National Scenic Byways having scenic beauty, archaeological or cultural richness and historical importance. You just need to click on a state to get the information. Maps and directions, photos, suggested itineraries, a calendar of events will help you a lot.

MileByMile:

This is itinerary-building site that is best for downloading free, printable highway travel guides. It provides information about nearby attractions and amenities of a particular place.

AAA’s daily fuel gauge report:
This site is helps you to find out the cheapest areas to gas up along your route. You can also track average state-by-state prices, which is useful for plotting longer journeys.

MapQuest’s gas finder:
A handy site that can help you search by type of fuel when going to spend several days touring around a single destination.

MomsMinivan.com:
This site gives 101 kid-friendly ideas for car trips, all organized by age group. You can get the printable car games, activities, and much more

Sesame Street car games:
The site can help you get more printable car games for kids under 6. You’ll also find instructions for classic games such as The Count’s Number Game and Oscar’s Grouchy Game.

Story nory:
At this site, you can load up the iPod or MP3 player with these lovingly-told audio stories made just for kids. Hey, downloading is free and you can buy more from iTunes if you wish.

Kiddie records weekly:
This wonderful site offers free downloads of classic kid’s tunes dating back to the ’40s and ’50s, the golden age of children’s records.

Don’t you think it still pays to be prepared? Take the time to get organized before your next car trip. I assure that you’ll travel with more confidence and less stress. Enjoy yourself!

Source: MSNBC

I often wondered if polar explorers are crazy. Why? Just imagine being tent bound in a cramped up space for an entire year. Seeing the same faces and listening to the same voices for twenty four hours and 365 days. Recently, researchers studied a condition called polar madness, which happens to members involved in polar expeditions.

This was done in order to understand how the astronauts will cope if send to Mars on a year round space exploration. The North and South poles present harsher conditions to explorers sometimes driving them nuts. These conditions are very much like the ones found in Mars.

Polar madness symptoms are depression, irritability, sleepless nights, anger and conflict with coworkers. Wow! I think that’s a wide range of things to look out for. Expeditionary behavior has always been important for scientists and space junkies. An University of South California scientist Lawrence Palinkas, wrote a paper very recently no the polar madness.

Along with his colleagues, Palinkas interviewed various members of the polar expeditions. They also reviewed chronicles written in the diaries. Palinkas mentioned the aspects of polar disorder:

Polar madness can take a variety of shapes.Some people may have difficulty adjusting to the light-dark cycles, and so they can never get a decent night sleep and experience a sleep disorder. Some people can get clinically depressed.

Although, some are extremely satisfied from the expedition, 40-60% often react negatively. Out of these people, there’s that 5% population who sometimes need serious medical treatment to fix their behavioral problems. The problems can even extend to sheer lunacy and Cannibalism. Yikes! Maybe I should reconsider my polar visit plans.

Back in 1880, only 6 survivors came out alive after the ill fated expedition reached it’s goals. Currently, in Antarctica, about 20 nations are operating about 47 stations. Most of these stations have several hundreds of people who crash in there for several months in a row. Hopefully, they won’t go crazy.These stations are operated by US, Canada, Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Russia.

Image Credits: Columbia, Shveik

When I first heard the name sky villa, I was wondering if this is some kind of space age home literally floating in the sky. But no, I was wrong. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa is yet another bigtime party place in the heart of Las Vegas.

Designed with a playboy theme in mind, this party house sort of looms over the Las Vegas strip. It is a two story building with a 10,000 square foot hideaway. It has got everything you need for the ultimate party scene.

This reminds me of the Hideaway Lounge back in Bozeman, Montana. Although, this is probably 10 times bigger than the small town hideaway. But, how much can you get it for? Try $40,000 per night. That would be a year’s savings for an Average American worker!

With the bars, jacuzzi and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the place creates a perfect ambiance for the weekend party. The owner of this place has even been nice enough to put a revolving bed.Also available is a photobooth.Besides these amenities, there is a massage room and a couple of bedrooms.

So, if you are a party animal or a weekend warrior, with a lot of saved up cash, you can rent this place for one night. I am sure you will have a blast. The best part of this place is when you get to see the wonderful Vegas skyline. Make sure you grab your dancing shoes on the way up here.

Image Credits:
Flickr[1] ,[3] ,Travelicious

Searching for the most isolated place on the planet is becoming more and more of a problem. An island with a population of just fifty seems unlikely in today’s world, but it does exist.

Add to that the fact that the local population are the descendants of mutineers and you have the twist of notoriety that attracts you even more. If you seek such a destination, try Pitcairn Island, a British overseas territory, home to the Bounty mutineers.

Image credit: Timflorianhorn

If you have a map of the Pacific Ocean nearby, you will find Pitcairn Island at latitude 25° 04′ south, longitude 130° 06′ west.

Image credit: Darn

The other uninhabited Pitcairn islands include: Henderson Island the largest island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several endangered bird species, Oeno Island/Sandy Island - a close pair of islands, and Ducie Island - distant from the others, with lots of exotic bird life. The islanders periodically visit the island for wood, fishing, or ‘on holiday’.

Pitcairn is a small volcanic island with approximately 1.75 square miles of land area, located. It has no tourist facilties, and not even an accessible beach. It is very difficult for boats to land there due to the pounding surf.

Bounty Bay, Image credit

Travel to Pitcairn is difficult at best, and communication options are limited to the community telephone (very expensive), mail (very slow) and ham radio. Getting there is only for those determined enough to do so.
There is no broadcast television on Pitcairn. What then does it hold?

Image credit: Richard Grover

Well, personally I love nature even with all its rough, rocky edges, but those of you who want more can go swimming at St. Paul’s Pool, a tidal pool in Eastern Pitcairn , Oeno island has the only sandy beaches suitable for swimming, Henderson is good for bird watching. You do get a chance to go snorkeling or scuba diving among coral reefs and a few shipwrecks. Add to that Polynesian rock carvings and the Bounty Bible and your trip is complete.

St. Paul’s Pool. While this small, protected pool was great for swimming and snorkeling, at high tide, the crashing waves on the rock walls could sweep you out to the ocean if you weren’t careful. Image source: National Geographic, Photographer Jimmy Chin

The people: Pitcairn culture, like its language, is a mix of English and Tahitian influences. They live in a communal village style in houses that are a combination of European and Tahitian architecture.

Mark Synnott is on the back of Brenda Christian’s four-wheeler. The islanders were incredibly adept at riding these four-wheelers along very tricky, cliffside trails, where a slight misjudgement of speed or cornering would result in plummeting into the rocky coastline far below.Source: National Geographic, Photographer Jimmy Chin

Provisions not grown or manufactured on Pitcairn are brought in by sea, as there are no aircraft landing facilities. The once-strict moral codes, which prohibited dancing, public shows of affection, and consumption of alcohol, have been relaxed in recent years.

Kevin Thaw feeds Mrs. T, the islanders’ family pet. She was previously known as Mr. T until a biologist visited the island and informed the Pitcairners of the tortoise’s correct gender.Photographer Jimmy Chin

Best time to go: If the mutiny on the bounty attracted you here in the first place then do go around, January 23, “Bounty Day” is celebrated with a huge community dinner and the burning of a model of the Bounty.

Mark Synnott, Brenda Christian, and Greg Child stand at the mouth of Christian’s Cave for a spectacular view of the island. Image source: National Geographic, Photographer Jimmy Chin

How to get to these islands: There are no aircraft landing facilities in these islands. Pitcairn Island is accessible to tourists via scheduled visits by a small number of commercial cruise ships, and via private ocean-traversing yachts.

Sailing from French Polynesia is relatively practical; from almost anywhere else (e.g. New Zealand, Chile) it requires crossing thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean.

Climbing beautiful sea stacks, Image source: National Geographic, Photographer Jimmy Chin

To this day, Pitcairn remains one of the most isolated habited places on earth. Since Pitcairn lies outside the normal shipping navigation paths, contact with the island is sporadic at best. Pitcairn visitors must obtain arrange to stay with native families, and written permission from the government is required to visit the island. So if you get a chance, do visit these islands before even they succumb to becoming crowded.

Off the coast of California, lies the Santa Catalina island. The island is about 22 miles long and 8 miles wide. It is basically used as a tourist hotspot. People go down to the island to enjoy a weekend of camping and outdoors. The camping here is pretty laid back with well stocked and maintained amenities.

This is basically a small town island with only a population of around 4000 roughly. The island offers various outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and snorkeling. People normally take their kayaks and kayak off the island in the fabulous coastal waters.

About camping on the island:

The park rangers around here do an awesome job of stocking campgrounds. Most of the restrooms are well stocked with soap, T.P.. They are equipped with coin operated hot showers and even soaps. This indeed is a camping resort. Otherwise who would expect all these in the wilderness area.

The rangers also sale the basic camping stuff like propane, ice and compressed wood. Only thing you would have to do is cooperate with the rangers so that everyone enjoys the camping trip. Don’t be the person out there blasting off your cool speakers and disturbing others.

Camping rules:

Some basic laws do apply to the island camping as well. Music should not be cranked up after 10 PM. Quiet hours on the island campgrounds are between 10 PM to 8 in the morning.

There is a curfew for minors and alcoholic beverages are only allowed to people who are 21 and above only. Underage drinking law is strictly enforced on the island by the rangers. I think these are just standard rules and if you are a happy camper, you shouldn’t have trouble with the law.

Getting to Catalina:

There are plenty of ferry services to the island. Do keep in mind harbor charges and ticket charges apply to visitors. It costs about $60 USD to use the ferry. Also, another option is to take your own boat to the island and boat camp.

The island has some awesome vistas all around. Unique trees and trails attract tourists to Catalina. If you are thinking about an unique getaway, try Catalina. Make sure you grab your sunscreen on the way out.

Image Credits: Hospitalityonline, Miracosta, Photobucket

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G.A.P Adventures, the largest adventure travel company in Canada is offering an eight day travel experience to take you to the footsteps of the Buddha. It’s a tour cum pilgrimage that will take travelers to the places that are related to Buddha. Be it the birthplace of Buddha, place where he took his last breath or where he gave his last sermon.

Gaya
[Image Credit]

The propounder, Buddha was born in Nepal, achieved enlightenment at Gaya (Bihar) delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh). Before taking his last breath at Kusinagar, he traveled miles across the country.

The journey will begin from Kathmandu. Then travelers go through the Nepalese landscape to the great Buddhist pilgrimage centre and birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini. Crossing the Nepalese border and into India, the travelers will head to Kushinagar.

Lumbini

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Lotus Pond, Gaya

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Buddhist temple Sarnath

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Kusinagar

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The traveler will see various temples, and shrines. Also, they will get a chance to see the Buddhist University of Nalanda and explore the Mahabodhi temple.

This trip is sure to be spiritual, to enlighten and set you on the right path!

Source: Wandalust

Is that a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Charles Simonyi(a software billionaire), trying to practice some superman like moves during his space training. He is a space tourist. Like him, there are many others who are trying to book their space tours as well. It seems like the space tourism tickets have skyrocketed and people are trying hard to get their space in the space shuttle.

Today, the cost of flying to an International Space Station is between $30-$40 million. That is an increase from $20-25million.

Why this increase? Well, mostly due to the fallen dollar value people are getting their hands on the tickets. Eric Anderson, President and CEO of Space Adventures concurs that the price rise in space tour tickets is :

mostly because of the fallen dollar

So, the authorities decided to hike the price up. After all, this is no longer a dream. Billionaires like Charles are being able to turn this dream to reality.

Previously, world’s first space tourist Denis Tito paid $20 million for his journey to space. South African Space tourist Mark Shuttleworth, paid his way to space following Tito’s trail. It seems like 20 million is an affordable amount for people with space tourism in mind.

I think if Space tour organizations like Space Adventures want to make space tourism popular, they should decrease the price rise. People can still afford the 20 million dollars. However, any more seems to be expensive.

What does this kind of cost cover?

For starters, you have to put down about a 20% deposit, which is still a huge amount. This will be sort of an initiation ceremony to space. Then you will have to pass your physical exams, and eventually go through a training at a Russian space facility. If you clear all this, you are ready for space and have to pay the rest of the amount to confirm your seat in the shuttle.

Current situation with tickets and seats:

NASA is trying hard to increase the number of seats available for space travel keeping in mind safety of the passengers. As of now there are a dozen of potential space tourists booking their way to space for 2008 and 2009 flights to space.

This is indeed an exciting time for this industry. NASA has also been brainstorming ideas for mass transit system in space. So soon enough, space flights might become feasible.

Image Credits: Thejo

Will you believe me, if I say Taj Mahal (the marble monument to love) is floating on River Thames? Yes, this is true, but it is not the real Taj Mahal, it’s the mini replica of it. The Thames Taj is the name given to this 68 meter replica and is created by bollywood art director, Bijon Das Gupta and Indian artist Suchi Chidambaram.

The Thames Taj made its way down London’s River Thames as the three-month India Now festival, celebrating the food, fashion, art and film of India, kicked off. The Festival aims at strengthening the ties between London and Delhi and will give the Londoners a chance to see what India has to offer from its past and what it has to offer for the future.

During the festival there will be over 1,500 events that will be showcasing all aspects of Indian culture. The events include a three-week mini-festival in Trafalgar Square in August, featuring bollywood dance displays, and Regent Street, a busy shopping area.

The festival’s launch was attended by Livingstone, Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, British actress Joanna Lumley and Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid.

Image Credit

Source: The Times of India

Petra, which is recently chosen as one of the world’s top architectural marvels, has been a popular tourist destination since long. Now, as it is picked up as one of the New Seven Wonders of the world, it is expected to draw large number of tourists. To attract the tourists and expand the tourist facilities, there is a building boom taking place in Petra and other archaeological sites in the region.

Petra is the ancient rose-red rock city known for its dramatic tombs and temple facade and has been the subject of increasing interest, tourism, and scrutiny since its “rediscovery” in 1812 by Johann Burckhardt.

Archaeologists say that the tourist boom would certainly endanger the site. To safeguard Petra, the archaeologists are planning to start the Petra Action Plan. It is anticipated that the plan will get green light for a bylaw mandating a strategy to safeguard it within this month or by August.

The firm budget figures for the action plan is not provided yet but it is said that about 1 million Jordanian dinars (US$1,411,369) will be required yearly so that the plan runs properly. Hope the archaeologists that seek to safeguard this architectural marvel succeed in their efforts.

Image credit

Source: Yahoo!

How about swimming in a pool that floats? Yes, you have read it correctly, the floating swimming pool also known as Badeschiff (bathing ship), the brainchild of Ann Buttenwieser gives you the opportunity to be in water on water.

The floating pool is a 25 meter, seven-lane pool that can fit 174 people. The pool has cost more than $4 million to build. There are translucent murals that depict the history of marine life on the New York waterfront. The pool is open to the public from 11 am to 7 pm and seven days a week through Labor Day. A free shuttle bus carries the swimmers from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Temperature of Berlin soared to the peak of 32 degree Celsius on 15th of July, 2007 and many people were seen cooling down in a floating swimming pool on the Spree River. So, if you are the one looking to escape the heat in some different way, the floating pool is for you!

Scroll down for more pictures of the floating swimming pool.

Images

Source: Spluch