Wine Tasting Tours in South Africa – The Eco Friendly Way

Located at the southern tip of Africa, South Africa is a country of diverse cultures and languages. Thirty miles east of Cape Town is a little town called Stellenbosch which is known for its tasty wine and gorgeous scenery. This charming town will take your breath away as you explore the array of vineyards and beyond.

To Tour or Not to Tour

As the second oldest town in South Africa, Stellenbosch is considered by most to be the hub of the wine industry. One has the option of visiting multiple vineyards on their own, or booking a tour. While I was there I decided to go with a tour company.

Let’s Be Responsible Tourists – The Eco Friendly Tour

When you think of wine tours you may not automatically think of your Eco Friendly tour options, but I’m here to tell you that you should. Hiking and biking are two very good ways of seeing the local terrain although there are other options too. I have highlighted a few top touring companies below, each having their own unique twist.

The Other Side of São Paulo – Brazil’s Working City Is a Surprise Hit with Art Lovers

Many visitors to Brazil make Rio de Janeiro their first (and only) stop. While the city has earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the world, you’ll find that São Paulo, a little over 200 miles to the southwest, deserves a thorough exploration as well. Think of them as sisters: Rio is the glamorous favorite, while São Paulo is the more serious, hardworking, and often-overlooked one. As the financial center of Brazil, this is where the country roles up its shirtsleeves and gets down to business; but that doesn’t mean São Paulo is lacking in creative energy. Quite the opposite.

With a larger population than any other city in the southern hemisphere, São Paulo was bound to produce its own distinctive brands of art and to host some of the world’s most exciting cultural events. In fact, it is home to an internationally-renowned Art Biennale, Fashion Week, and International film festival as well as many museums exhibiting works by major artists of the past and present. If you have any doubt that São Paulo is an important player on the world’s art scene, make Instituto Tomie Ohtake (Avenida Faria Lima 201; http://www.institutotomieohtake.org.br/) your first stop. Not only will the bold architecture stop you in your tracks, but once you step inside, you’re likely to view works by artists and designers ranging from Karim Rashid to Jean Dubuffet.

Travelling By Road: Planning for a Road Trip

A road trip can be very adventurous and exciting. It can be thrilling to drive past scenic routes, meet different people along the way, experience different cuisines and cultures and bring back happy memories that can last a lifetime.

However, if you have not planned for your road trip well, this thrilling adventure can quickly turn into a nightmare. If you got lost for a long time, or if did not know that the weather forecast of your destination was heavy rains, it could spoil your entire trip. Similarly, if you have not carried enough supplied that you are going to need on the trip, you will find yourself spending loads of money on buying essential stuff instead of spending it on things and activities you like. That is why it is very important that you carefully plan for your road trip.

Guidelines on Traveling with your Pet

There is no doubt that both you and your pet will enjoy the sun kissed beaches or the snow capped mountains you are visiting on your holiday, but there are very important things to consider before taking your pet on a trip.

The very first thing to consider is whether or not your pet will be comfortable traveling. For some very small animals, the stress of traveling could even prove fatal and if you think your pet may not be strong enough the strain of a trip, it is best that you consider options of leaving it behind with a responsible care giver. You may also want to consider the health of the pet during the course of your journey. If you think your pet is likely to be sick during the travel or at the destination, it is best that you leave it behind. Having a sick pet on a vacation can be very stressful for both you and your pet.

A Little East of West – Exploring One of Europe’s Most Welcoming and Affordable Capitals: Budapest

 

Budapest is actually three cities (Buda, Óbuda, and Pest) all packed into one. The intermingling of these elements makes Budapest feel uniquely layered with some parts of old Buda maintaining their historic charm and seven hundred year-old churches, castles, and clusters of multi-colored homes in the fashion of Prague or Bratislava; while lower Pest houses a massive Parliament building on the banks of the Danube, the second largest synagogue in the world, and bustling commuter stations that sometimes seem to function as a time warp where you might step below the pavement during off hours to find  packs of youth breakdancing to boomboxes turned to top volume.

Although it shares many links with Western Europe, there are also several aspects of Hungarian culture distinguishing it from its cousins on the continent. While there, you will definitely sense that you are slightly east of West. For starters, there’s the language. Hungarian (also called Magyar) bears no resemblance to Spanish, Italian, French, or other members of the Romance language family. Instead, it is part of the Uralic language family—making it a relative of Finnish and Estonian. Translation? You are best served to pick up the useful phrases of politeness such as “yes,” “no,” “please,” and “thank you,” but don’t expect to achieve a mastery of the mother tongue before arrival if your only foreign language background is a few years of high school French. 

Everest Base Camp: A Hike of a Lifetime

If you’re looking for a personal challenge and infinite bragging rights to your friends then hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp is the perfect trip for you!

Mount Everest: “Goddess of the Sky”

Mount Everest is the highest mountain on earth at 29,028 feet. It is a part of the Himalayan mountain range and is known in Nepalese as “Sagarmatha” or “Goddess of the sky”. Unless you have an extra $30,000 in your wallet for a guided expedition to the summit, I recommend a hike to Everest Base Camp.

Sitting at 17,600 feet above sea level Everest Base Camp is an awe inspiring scene. Since 1953 this incredible mountain has seen over 2,700 people make it to the summit and an unfortunate 200 or so who didn’t. Along the way you will pass spectacular scenery, speckled with colorful villages and hospitable Nepalese people.  

Flights and Touring Companies

The first thing you need to do is book a flight into Nepal. Climbing up the Nepal side of the mountain is the most popular route and the best time of the year to go is October. Although the air quality is the best in October the trails are also much more crowded.

Other months to consider are April and May. The trails aren’t quite as crowded and although visibility isn’t as good in the spring, it is still a good time to climb. Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and it is also where you will fly into and where your trip will begin.

Top 10 Dive Destinations in the World

Grab your gear and get ready to be wowed. It’s time to take a fabulous vacation to places near and far as we list the world’s Top 10 diving destinations. Read carefully as we highlight the top hot-spots for your underwater adventure.

1) Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Located in the Coral Sea, the Great Barrier Reef is perhaps the best known natural wonder of the world. This reef is so large that it can be seen by outer space and is home to the world’s largest coral reef system! The best time to dive is between August and December. You can check out www.great-barrier-reef-diving.com for more information.

2) Manta Ray Night Dive, Hawaii

This spectacular night dive continually rates as a top dive by the scuba community. Provided with flashlights, each diver will attract tiny plankton that will in turn bring the manta rays to the vicinity. Diving with these peaceful giants has been described as an experience of a lifetime. For more details look at www.konahonudivers.com.