Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Mauritius a Tropical Paradise

Mauritius is a tropical paradise. An easily accessible island in the Indian Ocean nestled up alongside Africa. Mauritius enjoys an extensively varied culture, due to its multifaceted history. It’s greatly influenced by its British and French ties and principally Indian workforce. The result is a mix of assorted cultures, religions, and languages. The residents include Hindus, Creole, Chinese, Muslims and Europeans. English, French and Creole are widely spoken, as are some other Asian languages. The variety is also evident in the food, which is a mix of Indian, Creole, Chinese, and European.

When to visit
Mauritius has a tropical climate that is significantly affected by southeast trade winds. It is warmest in February (85 degrees Fahrenheit) and coolest in July (70 degrees Fahrenheit) it is wisest to visit during the winter months; it is much cooler and rains less, mainly in the evening or just a passing shower in the day. The midday sun is strong so you can still get a tan. An added bonus this time of year is that the hotel charges are discounted for the Off-Peak Period.

Places to Visit
The absolute must see places of Mauritius are

Port Louis-- The capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, is a bustling urban center Places to see in Port Louis

Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolan botanical garden--This is a sixty-acre garden featuring a pond of Victoria amazonica lilies and an extensive collection of palms

Cauden waterfront complex--This modern mall houses a casino, restaurants, shops etc

China town—this is a bustling neighborhood full of small shops, family traders and oriental restaurants.
Central market--A dynamic, lively open-air market selling fruit, herbs, spices and potions.
Blue penny museum-- the museum houses items of national heritage including the famous stamps of the “Post Office” series printed in 1847.
Mahebourg--- near Port Louis is the nearest town to the international airport and a major business center. There is an appealing bay where you can unwind and sunbathe A Naval Museum is admission free, open everyday except Thursday. Ile aux Aigrettes and the Domaine du Chasser are two beautiful nature reserves worth seeing.
Tamarin is a good public beach with great views. You can also visit Casela Bird Park,

Moka-- is home to the University of Mauritius and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The area around Moka is very pictorial, filled with flourishing mountains of the Moka Range and waterfalls. It offers endless opportunities for quiet rambling.

Trou aux Cerfs-- is an ancient crater, and the climb to the top for the view, is worth the effort. Another highlight of this area are the Tamarind Falls a group of seven falls that pour themselves into a deep, quiet pool ideal for swimming.

Black Gorges National Park--- is also a must visit. The finest views of the Black River Gorge, the Riviere Noire Falls and Piton de la Petite Riviere Noire are from the Riviere Noire lookout. Near the Park is Lake Bassin, a volcanic crater and a Hindu pilgrimage site.
Ishu Sha is a travel consultant working with Event Management Company India Providing detailed information on Mauritius honeymoon packages

Friday, February 29, 2008

Top Asian Destination

Asia is a melting pot of culture and heritage brimming with colour, smell and taste. Each of the seven spots has something unique to offer to the visitor, something that can be found only in Asia.

Japan

Japan is situated in north-eastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. It consists of four major islands, encircled by more than 4,000 smaller islands, Tokyo is the capital. Japan has coastlines and varied scenery, towering volcanic mountains, and twisted beautiful valleys. Japanese architecture reflects the merger of traditional and modern. It has elaborately designed fortresses, Shinto shrines of Japan's original religion, Shintoism, and Classic Buddhist architecture. Japanese are very proud of their gardens and rightly so. Their gardens are designed to be depictions of nature and to convey a sense of simplicity, and unspoiled beauty.

Climate—Japan pleasant weather, with four distinct seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter. The intensity of the seasons varies from north to south.

Culture— Japanese culture has evolved from its roots to a cosmopolitan culture it is now a mixture of Asian, European and North American cultures. Japan has a rich cultural tradition of arts and literature Painting, Calligraphy, dance and music.

Cuisine— Japanese have a refined taste in cuisine and are famous for seafood dishes like sushi and sashimi for instance. The staple food is rice and miso. Their tea ceremonies are as elaborate as they are elegant.

Hot spots— Tokyo, Nikko, Kamakura, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nara, Nagasaki, Fuji Hakone Izu National Park, Daisetsuzan NP.

India

India lies in south Asia, between Pakistan, China and Nepal. India has mountain chains, foothill valleys, plateaus, tropical rain forests and sandy deserts are beaches. India is a land of diversity and beauty it is full of historic traditional monuments and modern buildings. India is full of sounds, tastes and smells in other words it is a plethora of wonders. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore are its four main cities.

Climate--- India basically has three seasons -summer, winter and monsoon each of which can vary in duration and intensity from north to south.

Culture --Indian culture is rich and diverse. It has a multitude of religions and cultures in accordance. There is a vast range of music and dance forms both classic and modern. India is greatly influenced by its film industry, of which “Bollywood” in Mumbai is a great icon. There are historic monuments like the Taj Mahal. The Indian culture treats guests as god and serves them as one. Indians are generally warm hearted and welcoming in nature.

Cuisine—Once again great diversity is found in ingredients, spices and cooking methods. Rice and wheat are the staple. A wide variety of cuisine is found and there is a great disparity in the food from region to region, though spicy food is more common.

Hot spots-- Taj Mahal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa, Kashmir, Bollywood, Himalayan range, Mumbai, Delhi, Khajuraho, beaches and National Reserves and sanctuaries.


Singapore

Singapore is an island city at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and is the smallest country in Southeast Asia. The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words singa (lion) and pura (city). It is said 14th-century Sumatran prince on taking refuge on the island after a thunderstorm, renamed it Lion City after spotting a lion. Singapore consists of 63 islands, including the main island itself; you can find beautiful beaches and panoramic oceanic views everywhere in Singapore. Singapore of today has a highly developed and flourishing economy, which revolves around trade. It is a popular travel destination, with tourism as its largest industry.

Climate-- Singapore has a tropical rainforest climate with no distinct seasons, temperatures remain uniform all year round.

Culture -- Like all of Asia Singapore also has a rich history filled with traditions. Chinese Singaporeans form the largest ethnic group then come the Malay Singaporeans, Indian Singaporeans, and Arab Singaporeans. Racial harmony is greatly respected all aspects of society, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Christian’s all live peacefully. The architecture of Singapore is varied, reflecting the ethnic build-up of the country; it has Chinatown and Little India. Singapore has also become a centre for modern, architecture with huge malls and hotels. It’s a shopper’s paradise with ongoing shopping festivals and carnivals.

Cuisine— Singapore has a wide range of ethnic food available; like Chinese, Indian, French, Italian and Malay food.

Hot spots—Chinatown, Little India, Arab Street, Supreme Court and City Hall, Parliament House and the Elephant Statue, Orchad Road, Raffles Hotel and all the malls and festivals.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Top Asian Hot Spots

China
China is one of the world's oldest continuing civilizations. It is the third largest country in the world and it is situated in eastern Asia on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean. The greater part of the Chinese country is mountainous; it also has a long coast line. China is a huge country that has a rich culture and heritage. It is a mixture of the old and the modern world, it is essentially Asia with a twist of the west.

Climate— China has a continental climate. Its southern division is in the tropical and subtropical zones, and its northern division near the frigid zones. It has extreme temperatures depending which part you are in.

Culture – The People's Republic of China is officially secular and atheist, but religion is allowed. Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and Christianity are found all over china. Over a hundred ethnic groups have existed in China, Calligraphy is an ancient and revered art form, and so is Chinese style brush painting.

Cuisine—Chinese cuisine is as rich and diverse as its heritage Noodles, Peking duck, Tofu, seafood are a few well known dishes. Rice is the staple food.

Hot spots— Beijing, the Great Wall of China, Xi'An, Shanghai, Suzhou, Chengdu, The Three Gorges, Guilin ,Tibet and Nanjing are a few of the must see spots.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a diverse modern metropolis steeped in unique blends of Eastern and Western traditions. The name "Hong Kong", literally meaning "fragrant harbour", derived from the time when fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded. Hong Kong is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, along with Macau. It comprises of more than 260 islands. Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories are the main islands.

Climate— Hong Kong's climate is subtropical and prone to monsoons. It has the four main seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Culture – 95% of Hong Kong's population is of Chinese descent, the majority of which are Cantonese or from ethnic groups such as Hakka and Teochew. It is also greatly influenced by its British inheritance. Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where East meets west. Honk Kong is a shopper’s paradise and has an active nightlife.

Cuisine— Hong Kong's cuisine is famous for its colourful combination of Eastern and Western flavours along with a wide variety of culinary delights. Cantonese, Chiu Chow, Hunan, Szechuan, Peking, Shanghainese or Chinese Vegetarian is all found in Hong Kong.

Hot spots— Victoria Peak, The Star Ferry, Nathan Road, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Temple Street, Night Market and Macau SAR