With the World Heritage Site status, these natural and cultural sites will no doubt become prominent tourist destinations, but with the celebrity status, also comes the danger of overexploitation and pollution by the ever-increasing influx of tourists to these destinations. The inclusion of a site in the list of World Heritage Sites does not guarantee its protection but makes it more visible and gives it an international appeal, which increases the inflow of tourists to these sites.

It is rightly said that tourism carries with it the seeds of its own destruction and its impacts in a destination cuts both ways. The money that tourism brings help in the conservation and preservation of these sites. On the other hand, the negative impacts of tourism can destroy these natural and cultural heritage sites.

Therefore, the responsibility of protecting these natural and cultural heritage sites does not end at giving them a World heritage status. This is only the beginning and much success in their conservation and protection will depend on promoting sustainable tourism, one that is locally planned and managed. Much success will however depend, above all, on the commitment of the individual traveler who needs to be educated to travel in a responsible way. The challenge to everyone is to use tourism wisely to preserve these heritage sites lest they end up in the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Via msnbc

Beautifully designed recreational park trailers, or park models, are revolutionizing traditional camping and gradually replacing recreational vehicles and tents. Park models offer an alternative way to camp out and they are gaining popularity in all the tourist destinations across the USA. These mobile cottages are upscale trailer homes that provide all the amenities of home. They are tastefully designed and come equipped with kitchens and bathrooms. Most units have sloping roofs; floor-to-ceiling windows, lofts and hardwood cabinetry that make them look more like small cottages rather than trailer-like park models. As a matter of fact, they have become so popular, consumers are even purchasing them as second homes.

With soaring oil prices in recent times, this surly is a very cost-effective means of spending a holiday, which creates a perfect blend between isolation and community. Camping is all about the experience and park models offer an alternative to those who cannot invest in camping equipment or recreational vehicles to relish this experience.

Via USA Today

Indeed, Edmund Hillary was a rare embodiment where adventure converged with humility, and determination with philanthropy. No doubt, physically he is not with us, but in hearts, he will ever remain!

Source

Those who have seen Rome, either live or on media might be wondering how the historic city looked when it was in its peak of its power. Well, you no more have to imagine things; experts have revived the Roman city, virtually at least and have unveiled the largest and the most completed simulation of a historic city.

The concept is similar to that on online virtual world complete with avatars that explore the monuments and even the villa of Livia, wife of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. Visitors can wander through these rebuilt monuments and interact with the characters virtually to get the feel of the historic place. The avatars can even fast forward to the 21st century and show you the monuments as they look today.

How did they come up with it? Experts made use of satellite imagery and satellite images, and studied ancient texts to digitalize over 1.8 million hectares of the terrain and reconstruct the roads and monuments as they looked in first century A.D. The virtual reconstruction hosted in downtown Rome at the Museum of the Diocletian Baths cost more than US$1.1 million.

What can you expect? You enter the darkened room of the museum wearing 3D glasses and four visitors pick their avatars and control them with the joysticks and computer screens while the rest of the audience follow them on the movie screen. As you visit the monuments, you get to interact with the characters like the empress and the emperor, as well as a gardener of those times explaining the monuments and the history of the city.

Sadly, you need to know Italian language to understand what they have to say but it sure won’t stop you from enjoying the virtual tour.

via:USAtoday

Unique structures designed to perfection are a visual pleasure;the Regatta Hotel in Jakarta is one such architectural marvel. The aerodynamically shaped 5-star hotel follows a nautical theme representing a ‘lighthouse’ and ten apartment towers representing tall ships dot its surroundings overlooking the Java Sea. The aw-inspiring property is built on an area totaling 16,991 square meter featuring 320 units, luxury boutique, Health and fitness spa, Ball room and Business center. The hotel assures world class hospitality and ultimate comfort of seaside living to its clients. The Regatta is all set to be an iconic building giving a new face to the urban development in the Indonesian capital.

Source: Architecturelist

I’ll give you 500 Francs to get rid of him.

Now that’s not really being friendly, is it?

Source: Dailymail

Image credit: Magicswitzerland

With much trepidation, the Mexicans used to the warm climes are flocking to the new holiday destination in Mexico City. The rink measures 40 meters by 77 meters with 74 kilometers of tubes feeding 10 chilling machines under the huge ice sheet. The project is the brainchild of the Mexican mayor. It was constructed by Key Entertainment, an American company at a cost of about $1.5 million.

The new Mexican sport has caught the fancy of the citizens of the country as a welcome break from the usual bullfights. People are queing to buy a ticket for a 45-minute spin on the ice. It is however not easy for the common people of the country to pick up skating on the ice. Dozens of monitors are keeping vigil over the new sportsmen and women and yelling instructions at them.

After the initial teetering, Ice-skating is set to become the most sought after sporting activity for the Mexicans. Tourists and citizens alike now have a new travel destination to get the experience of skating on the snows at a cheaper indoor locale, much like experiencing snow skating in the middle of the desert in Dubai and an ice skating rink in a shopping mall.

Source:infected tube
Image:iht

MV Doulos, meaning slave in greek, currently holding the biggest floating library in the world, is now getting ready to conduct a get together between the Filipino youth and some other volunteers from all over the world. This event is going to happen on December 28 in Subic Bay Freeport zone, where Mv Doulos is going to arrive after six long years. The Filipino youth community consists of people from different backgrounds, who are united by their longing for peace, justice and morality.

The volunteers from all over the world are going to interact with these people through cultural activities, music and art. The ship, considered to be one of the oldest passenger ship in the world, is going to act as a medium through which these people are going to communicate.

The library in the ship consists of several thousands of books on several topics and in many languages. It has been traveling through several places with the cause of spreading information to people all over the world. This project is indeed a great step forward, bringing unity among people and thereby promoting world peace.

Via: NewsInfo

Stopovers at the airports in between are exciting and relaxing when the duration is small as it gives you an opportunity to shake your legs, freshen up and possibly get a good deal at the duty-free shops. But, what do you do when you have to kill hours waiting at the airport?

Well, if you are having a stopover at Bangkok, you don’t have to worry about the agony of waiting for hours. In fact, the amount of fun you can have at the Suvarnabhumi airport is directly proportional to the number of hours you get to spend there. The A$4.8 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport, thrown open last year, can handle over 45 million passengers a year.

If you are a compulsive shopper, the obvious option is to find some great bargains at the duty-free shops in the airport and if you are ready for a game, you can go bargain hunting for designer products and souvenirs around the airport. When exhausted, head straight to the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel and have a snooze if you care for one. But, if you want to maximize the benefits of the stopover, check in at the in-hotel spa for a whole range traditional Thai massages and pick the one that suits your time and budget. Now, step into your next flight like a pampered diva and enjoy your travel!

Game for another stopover?

Source: The Age

It is not surprising at all that a nation as blessed in natural resources like South Africa has found a way to open up a bar inside a tree trunk. The only pub in the world that is located inside a tree trunk can be found in Limpopo, South Africa. The pub has been created inside a 72ft high majestic Baobab tree and has a circumference of 155ft. The Baobab tree is said to go hollow in its trunk after a lifetime of 1000 years. Hence the hollow interior of this tree was made by a very natural process.

The Sunland Farm which houses this amazing tree is owned by Heather van Heerden and the family came up with this idea of making a pub out of the tree trunk; maybe to quench the thirst of the locals in an eco friendly way. While they were clearing the tree trunk, they apparently found artifacts like a Bushmen bed made from rocks and Voortrekker’s tools and wagon pieces. The tree is said to be more than 6000 years old and that obviously means it must have witnessed plenty of things.


The pub attracts nearly 7000 visitors each year and it can host 15 people at one time, with comfortable seating for them. It has a low roof but it still looks very comfortable and it looks spacious enough for a few people. But the family claim that they can cram up to 54 people inside the trunk! The Baobab trees have always been known as ‘trees of life’ as they can give food, water and shelter to individuals. Now they have gone a step further with some human innovation; they can give you a mug of beer too.

Source

Oh yes, do not forget the multi-colored lakes! You have a white lake due to borax, a red lake infested with red algae, a yellow lake due to sulphur concentrations, and blue one from the manganese.

You must be ‘Roman in Rome’ to soak into the real culture of the place you are traveling to. So, if you can put up in the ‘Ice hotel’ in Norway to see how the life an eskimo is, what do you do when you go to a salt desert? Stay in a ‘Salt hotel’, of course!

Every thing (well, almost) in the ‘Salt hotel’ is made up of salt blocks offering a unique experience to the travelers. So you sit on the salt chairs, eat on salt tables, enjoy your wine in the salt bar and sleep on salt beds. In short, you sit, eat and sleep on salt. You are even given instructions to be careful enough not to lick the walls but do give it a try to check if it’s genuine!

If you are off to Bolivia this time, check in at the Salt Hotel and experience a unique stay and you just know what to do if you need some salt for your soup!

Source: NationalGeographic

Image credit: UltimateJourney

The increasing popularity of low fare airlines have made railway authorities sit up and take action. In the jet-setting age, where time is money, it’s hard to find people opting for rail travel. If not for the price factor, most tracks would have been redundant by now. However, French railway authorities are on their way to make rail travel interesting and enticing by offering on board personalized services. If you are traveling in France on the new IDTGV trains, you might as well have a blast while you travel. Whether you are traveling alone or with your gang of friends and family, these new trains have something to offer for every passenger.

Want to watch a movie to kill time? No problems, you can order your favorite movie on the on-board DVD rentals. Forgot to bring a magazine? You can buy the magazines of your choice too. How about renting games console and enjoy some action? That’s not all; they even plan to have talent competitions on board and events like wine tasting, beauty treatments, and cabarets. The barista is at your service offering a gourmet menu to satisfy your taste buds.

The whole idea is to attract young travelers who don’t mind traveling all night as long as they ‘passer un bon moment’ (have fun) and the tickets are of course relatively cheaper than other trains. But if you are someone who doesn’t enjoy loud music and the chatter of fellow travelers, you can check in at the iDZen zone where mobile phones are switched off and no noisy equipment around to ensure your sleep time is peaceful.

It’s party time on the train folks!

Image Credits: Journaldunet,
Tourmag

Source:News.com.au

Religious places like temples have been tourist attractions for ages. The fabulous architecture that they display is simply breathtaking to see. Tikal located in the northern Guatemala is one such city where the temple architecture is the main tourist attraction. Temples are categorized here from I to IV for the ease of identification. The ever-creeping vegetation and wildlife that surrounds Tikal creates a unique ambiance for the visitors. The temples here are the last remains of the Mayan civilization . Popularly known as Tikal ruins, this part of the world is like a tourist magnet. The downside of this trip is that the visitor will have to spend a night in the very humid Tikal National Park along with the mosquitoes that dwell in the area.

The pyramids, the Colosseum as well as the Great Tikal Plaza, add to the grandeur of the environment. The plaza is about the size of a baseball diamond. During the Mayan days, the plaza was probably the most happening place in Tikal. This historical tourist spot was open to public back in the year 1955. Besides the pyramidal temples, there are limestone structures in the area that also attract plenty of attention.

Besides the fact that Temple I is the first in the category, the unique architecture attracts the eye of tourists to this building. The pyramid reaches about 150 feet, which I think is a pretty big structure. However, Temple IV is the tallest with a height of 200 feet or so. If you are visiting this ancient tourist spot, the closest town to the area is El Remate. La Casa de Don David would be a great place to stay. The hotel will make all the necessary travel arrangements for you. Just make sure you buy plenty of water for your Tikal trip. Vegetarian food is easily available in the area. So, if you are still wondering where to go for your next vacation, think Tikal.

The stone panels from the royal palace at Khorsabad run along the walls. One panel shows distinctly regal king looks at his subjects as a courtier fan him while other shows priests carrying out religious rituals.

During restoration of this museum modern arch, is included which is flanked by ancient bulls with eagle wings and human heads at the entrance of the hall, which gives you the sense of walking into an Assyrian palace.

Dr Amira Eidan says;

I hope that we can open the whole museum and there are many galleries like the Sumerian Hall, Akkadian Hall and a Babylonian one.

Adding concerns over security he said;

I wish I could say when the museum will reopen but it depends on the security situation, and it is so important for all the Iraqi people for the museum to be safe. We cannot take the risk again and see what happened in 2003.

Visitors can wonder with the unexpected stunning Assyrian gallery in Baghdad, this museum is with the glories that were once in the national collection.

Source: BBC

Indonesia is a Muslim dominated country but that didn’t stop the country from having one of the tallest statues of Jesus. The 32-meter-high statue was built by Ciputra, a real estate developer in one of its residential estate in the North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. The statue was built over three years with 25 tonnes of metal fibre and 35 tonnes of steel and cost five billion rupiah($540,000).

The statue of white-robed Jesus stands tall with his upraised hands beckoning people to take his blessings. Ciputra hopes that the ‘Jesus Blessing Monument’ would become a religious icon and attract tourists all over the world.

The Indonesian Museum of Records had certified the statue as Asia’s tallest Jesus, while the world’s tallest statue of Jesus, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro stands tall at 39.6 meters.

It is said that faith knows no boundaries.Could there be a better example of this?

Via: Dailymail