Things To Do In South Beach Miami

Myth: Ecotourism is very expensive

Fact: Ah! This is the number one misconception about ecotourism. Majority of the travelers around the world prefer to meet locals, experience the local traditions and cultures of their tourist destination. Most tourist companies try to cash in on this expectation and promise the best opportunities to sink into the local culture and view the natural ecosystem of the place. An ignorant traveler might end up paying an exorbitant price for enjoying something that is naturally available at a tourist destination. Believe me, you can enjoy an eco-tour at an expense as low as $5 a day too.

Myth: Ecotourism hotels are not luxurious!

Fact: Quite often it is assumed that ecotourism involves jungle safaris and staying in tents in some remote corner of the globe. This is because ecotourism is advertised with pictures of tribal people, forests, animal-life and accommodation in tents or tree-houses. Fact is quite the opposite. While an eco-traveler may actually opt to travel in the cheapest possible way, backpacking or on foot, you might not be aware that ecotourism can be luxurious too. There are plenty of luxury hotels that emphasize on ecotourism by giving due respect to carbon footprint, organic food, protection of natural habitat of fauna, avoiding cultural shock to local people and so on.

Myth: Third world countries are the only ecotourism destinations.

Fact: Again a major myth of ecotourism holidays. As a prospective tourist, we believe what we see or presume. However, ecotourism holidays can take place in any part of the world from some remote place in Africa to some highly popular tourist city in Europe or United States.

Myth: Ecotourism means volunteering social work rather than fun-filled holidays Read the rest of this entry »

•The word Dubai may have evolved from the word Daba, which means to creep, referring to the process by which the Dubai Creek slowly flows inland. Another interesting version is, the poet Ahmad Mohammad Obaid claims that Dubai got its name from the same word, Daba, which also refers to a swarm of locusts.
•Dubai had a flourishing pearl business, which collapsed with the advent of the First World War and the Great Depression.
•Dubai is a part of the Arabian Desert, but is topographically different from it. It is dotted with sandy deserts, where wild grasses and palm trees grow. To the east of the city lie the sabkha, coastal plains covered with salt, which see an abundant growth of desert hyacinths.
•Every year, in spring and fall, over 300 bird species migrate through Dubai.
•Dubai experiences extremely arid and hot climates, with the mercury shooting as high as 104oF. Average precipitation is not more than 140 mm annually. Summers are prone to severe sandstorms, locally known as shamal, which can last for days on end, and reduce visibility.
•The Al Maktoum dynasty has ruled Dubai since 1833. Dubai does not follow the federal judicial system of the United Arab Emirates.
•The culture and dress code in Dubai is much more diverse and liberal than the other emirates of the UAE. Though music, arts, and food have a distinct Arabic and Bedouin influence, the large influx of foreigners visiting and working in Dubai have left their indelible mark on the place, which is evident in the cosmopolitan culture of the society. Traditionally, men wear a kandura, a long white robe, that reached up to the ankles, and is either woolen or made from cotton. Women can be seen wearing the abaya, a black garment worn over the clothes.
•Dubai has stringent behavioral laws in place, and kissing and dancing in public is considered illegal. It is imperative that Muslim religious restrictions be obeyed by non-Muslims as well.
•Dubai has world-famous shopping malls, and tourists flock here regularly to enjoy the Dubai Shopping Festival. The Dubai Mall is the seventh largest mall in the world, and the city is called the Shopping Capital of the Middle East.
•On either side of Dubai Creek, lie commercial districts known as souk. These districts are traditionally famous for the exchange of commodities, which were brought in by Arabian cargo vessels known as dhows from east Asia. Visit a souk to get a feel of true Dubai shopping, where customers bargain heavily.
•Dubai is famous for its gold market, and the Gold Souk itself has over 250 gold shops! It is said that one in every five persons in Dubai buys at least five pieces of jewelry annually.
•Dubai is home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure on the earth, at a height of 2,717 feet. The tallest residential building in the world, the 23 Marina is also located in Dubai. The world’s tallest hotel, the Rose Tower or Rose Rayhaan, is also found in Dubai, standing tall at 1,092 feet.
•The Burj Al Arab, built in the shape of a dhow sail, is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, and the fourth tallest, is built on an artificial island, nearly 280 feet from Jumeirah beach. One of its restaurants, Al Mahara, features a massive seawater aquarium, made of acrylic glass. The entry to this restaurant is through a simulated submarine voyage.

Brussels
If you want to see the modern life of Belgium, Brussels is the place to be. The top attraction in this city is the Grand Place, surrounded by the Town Hall and is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another attraction in the city includes the Parc du Cinquantenaire; a large park spread across 30 hectares comprising beautiful gardens, waterfalls, and ponds. It even has the famous Cinquantenaire Art Museum, AutoWorld Museum, and the Royal Military Museum. And not to forget the famous Manneken Pis, Belgium’s famous little statue. It’s a statue of little boy peeing in a fountain, located on the corner of Rue de L’Etuve & Stroofstraat since 1619.

Bruges
Bruges is the place to travel to if you are looking for a blend of early and contemporary life in Europe. The Groeningemuseum is a major point of interest that is a museum of fine arts holding artworks from the 14th century onwards. Another attraction is the Choco-Story Museum that gives you a glimpse about the making of chocolates. Similarly, The Frietmuseum shows the role and history of potato and chips. Don’t miss the Snow and Ice sculpture festival which displays exquisite ice sculptures.

Leuven
A city just about 20 km east of the vibrant Brussels is Leuven. This is a city famous for the Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis, a botanical garden known for possessing rare flowers and plants, ponds, greenhouses, etc. The city is mainly known for its student life, pubs, bars and busy markets. Other attractions include the Leuven Town Hall, Grand Béguinage of Leuven, and many historical churches like St. Peter’s Church and Church of Saint Michael.

Antwerp
This city boasts of one of the largest seaports in the European region. It is a metropolitan city with much to offer for visitors. Animal lovers would really enjoy the Antwerp Zoo which has around 6,000 animals. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp is for art enthusiasts, displaying a wide range of works by world-renowned artists. Other places for tourists are the Steen Castle, Antwerp Port, and many diamond shops, as this city is believed to be the world’s diamond capital. Read the rest of this entry »

Interesting Facts About Philippines For Kids •Taiwan lies to the north of Philippines; while Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea lies to the south. The country of Vietnam is on the west of Philippines while the Philippine Sea is to the east.
•The Philippine islands was under Spanish rule from 1521 to the nineteenth century. The British had also invaded Manila in the eighteenth century. Later it was under the American rule in the Second World War. It gained independence after the World War II.
•It is a popular belief that English language was brought to Philippines by Americans. On the contrary, the English language was introduced to the people of this nation by the British invaders.
•Talking about languages, the official languages of this nation are Filipino and English; while other regional languages recognized in this country are Bikol, Ilokano, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Pangasinense,Tagalog and Waray.
•The history behind the name ‘Philippines’ of this country is also very interesting. The nation got its ‘Philippines’ after King Philip II of Spain.
•Philippines boasts of a coastline of 36,289 kilometers. However, it still ranks fifth in the world for having the longest coastline.
•Due to the presence of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Philippines is highly prone to earthquakes and typhoons.
•There were about 200 volcanoes on the islands of Philippines earlier. However, very few are actually active now.
•Mount Apo, found on the island of Mindanao is the highest point in Philippines. The height of this mountain is 2,954 m.
•People native to Philippines are known as Filipino. There is a mixture of ethnicity in Philippines as people belonging to different ethnic groups like Malay, Spanish, American and Chinese are found in this country.
Fun Facts About Philippines •There are specific mountain types, known as Chocolate Hills found in this country. As they are brown in color, they are termed so. However, another interesting fact is that the name of these hills has been inspired by ‘Hershey’s kisses’.
•The capital city of Philippines, Manila, is named after a plant called as Maynilad.
•Another interesting facts about Philippines is that it the world’s third largest English speaking country.
•According to the customs and traditions in Philippines, it is not considered good manners to open gifts immediately when they are given.
•Do you know that Philippines is the only country in the world whose flag is hoisted upside down when the country is at war?
•Philippines is known as the ‘text capital of the world’ because of the large number of texts sent to and fro by the people in one day. The number is higher then the number of text messages sent by people of US and UK together. Read the rest of this entry »

Although I am going to list you the top most attractions in Niagara Falls, the list is presented to you in no particular order. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to “things to do on a vacation” and depending on that, your choice of attractions in Niagara Falls will differ. So look at this list as a “must do” when you plan to visit the speechless and astounding Falls.

1. Maid of the Mist – How does a boat ride to the Niagara Falls sound? Don’t worry. This is one of the most popular attractions where you board a double-decker boat and take a long 20 minute ride to the Falls. The boat gets really close without having to swim. And since you are going to be this close, you’ll get wet. But no need to panic. You’ll get disposable ponchos to wear when you board the boat. The Maid of the Mist is one of the best things to do in Niagara Falls in winter as it operates from April to October.

2. Caves of the Winds – If you still want to get close to the water of the Falls, then the Caves of the Winds is the next best attraction. First you will take the elevator about 175 feet inside the Niagara Gorge and then travel further ahead on a wooden walkway; this walkway is known as the Hurricane Deck. You will be wearing a yellow poncho and proper footwear so that you don’t slip. There’s going to be a lot of water, gushing water over you, and of course, rainbows. A perfect attraction for kids and adults.

3. Marineland – Niagara Falls has its own SeaWorld (well… sort of). Marineland is a park where you can enjoy amazing amusement rides (roller coasters), feed and touch Beluga whales, watch the killer whales, dolphins, sea lions, and walrus. Watch these creatures perform stunts and have fun petting and feeding land animals as well. The park is open from mid May to mid October. It’s a great place for families and friends to hang out.

4. Aquarium of Niagara – This aquarium has more than 1,500 aquatic animals that include piranhas, California sea lions, sharks, Giant Pacific octopus, seals, Peruvian penguins, sea horses, and many more. You can feed the animals, watch their special presentations, and take training sessions with the sea lions. You can visit the Aquarium of Niagara the year round.

5. Snow Park Niagara Falls – Do you love to ski and snowboard? Would you like to get away from the heat and have fun doing outdoor winter sports? Then the Snow Park Niagara Falls is just the right place for you where there are skating rink, snowzone, and a 50-foot high tubing hill. You get to ski in fresh snow (they make sure it’s fresh on a daily basis). And the best part is, you get to enjoy skiing whether it’s sunny, raining, or snowy outside.

6. LaSalle Waterfront Park – This park is open from morning till evening and can be visited the year round. Whether you wish to take a gorgeous and peaceful bike ride through the trail or would just wish to walk, this park has the most amazing view of the upper Niagara River. The bike trail goes from the Niagara River to the Niagara Falls Sate Park. You will also witness the most beautiful waterfalls along the way.

7. Niagara Adventure Theater – If you are traveling with kids, then this theater is the best place to visit. You get the IMAX’s photographic technique on a 45 foot big screen so that you can experience the films to the fullest. The shows run every hour and you can also get headsets for different languages. An entertainment like no other. Read the rest of this entry »