Special Destination

Trips of Distinction

2009-03-10T02:27:00.001-07:00

What do private villas, luxury cruises, five-star luxury properties, and private yachts have in common? To start, let's talk about the unprecedented level of service, elegance and style that is associated with these types of luxurious getaways. Educated travelers know that a high level of personalized attention is key when it comes to booking a lavish retreat. Smart travelers are bypassing traditional online booking engines that are impersonal, focusing their attention on luxury suppliers that offer much more in the line of travel concierge services.

Trips of Distinction, a leading seller of luxury travel to Tahiti, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and Europe, personally hand pick private villas with butlers, luxury resorts known for impeccable service, and private yachts and premier cruises that are fit for royalty. An 800 number provides each client the unique ability to speak with a travel specialist who is eager to offer exceptional industry insight. With a wealth of knowledge and first-hand education of destinations, vessels and properties, this personalized concierge service is unsurpassed and caters to the client's every whim. Customers will feel secure that they are getting the best option for their travel needs, and the highest quality and value for their dollar.

For a limited time, Trips of Distinction is offering special incentives when you book travel, including a $600 culinary experience complete with personal chef, a $500 resort credit for spas, restaurants, and golf, or a $200 onboard spending credit on certain cruises.

With a fantastic portfolio of exotic destinations, Trips of Distinctions is the obvious choice for personalized service when booking your next luxury vacation. With the guarantee of a unique vacation itinerary and first-class service all the way, why would you settle for anything less?

See Seven Wonders

2009-03-10T02:19:00.000-07:00

Paramount Business Jets is offering a special excursion that takes a group of 16 to the Seven Wonders of the World in a month.

Sixteen passengers, or a group, will be on a luxury-latent month-long journey that touches down on all of the world's continents. Travelers will fly aboard a fully staffed 737 Boeing Business Jet loaded with amenities that include a full shower, live music, gourmet menus, in-flight massage services, a yoga instructor, and facial treatments.

The actual cost per passenger in a group of 16 travelers is $356,250 or $5.7 million for the entire group. The trips are open to anyone who is wishing to book it. The Seven Wonders vacations also can be taken in legs or sections for less than a month.

Paramount Business Jets books flights year round and offers guaranteed availability with a 10-hour notice. Aircraft available include light, midsize, heavy jet or airliner.

Holiday Ideas For Lottery Winners

2009-02-22T23:24:00.000-08:00

In my quiet moments, I sometimes fantasise about how I would spend my lottery winnings should my numbers ever come up. And with odds of 14 million to 1, or thereabouts, I'm afraid fantasy is all it's likely to be! Of course, one of the great pleasures of winning would be the sharing of my good fortune with family, friends and favourite charities but once their needs were met, my thoughts would quickly turn to travel. So, of all the incredible places and experiences the world has to offer, what would be on my lottery list?

The Galapagos
Topical, in this anniversary year of Charles Darwin, The Galapagos would definitely be somewhere near the top of my list. Located 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The islands are described as a living laboratory of evolution where birds and animals have no fear of man. Being able to get this close to such extraordinary wildlife, which roam as freely as they did thousands of years ago, would really be a unique experience. Unfortunately, the islands and their flora and fauna are at risk from the increasing amount of tourism, so it would be important to find a holiday with the smallest possible impact on the environment.

New Zealand
We were lucky enough to visit New Zealand a few years ago and there were several places we visited which I would like to go back and devote more time to. One of which is Abel Tasman National Park on the northern coast of the South Island. Famous for its golden beaches, granite cliffs and the Abel Tasman Coast Track, it is New Zealand's smallest National Park. And as a lottery winner, I would definitely indulge myself and stay in the heart of the park at the wonderful Awaroa Lodge.

On our previous trip, we also tried to go whale watching from Kaikoura but were thwarted by bad weather so we would definitely schedule that into the itinerary and hope the weather gods looked on us more favourably second time around. Other stops on our grand tour would take in The Coromandel and The Tongariro National Park on the North Island.

China
Like many other people last year, I watched the coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games on TV and became increasingly interested in visiting China. If my lottery win happens soon, I may even make it in time for the eclipse! Must see sites would of course, include The Great Wall, The Terracotta Army, Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City.

African Safari
It has long been a dream of mine to see big cats, elephants, giraffes and other exotic animals in the wild. Safari holidays are very popular these days and unfortunately can be very expensive but with my lottery winnings in hand, I could afford the best! I think it's really important to do your research when planning this type of holiday. There are lots of options when it comes to location and type of experience and timing can also be a key issue.

Skiing in Style
Skiing is one of my passions and no travel list would be complete without a great ski holiday. So where would I go? Whistler, in Canada, has been my favourite resort since my first visit in 1993. I haven't been there since 2002, so I think doing Whistler "in style" would be my ski holiday of choice. "In style" would mean first class travel, helicopter transfers, private ski instructors, staying at the Chateau Whistler and eating at great restaurants like The Bearfoot Bistro.

Well, I think that would keep me busy for a while...long enough to think of a few more experiences to add to the list anyway!

By : Mandy Moore

Indonesia's Top Five Dive Sites

2009-01-28T11:56:00.000-08:00

Indonesia is an archipelago comprising of over 17,000 islands, a volcanic arc that spreads over two thousand miles from Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east. At the heart of the coral triangle, a region which scientists believe holds the planets highest concentration of marine biodiversity, Indonesia surely plays host to some of the worlds finest dive sites. Of course the quality of a dive is purely subjective but here are my top five for diving in Indonesia.

Pantee Peunateng, Pulau Weh, Sumatra: This high adrenaline dive sites is highly exposed making it an intense experience even when conditions are calmer than most. A fringing reef with dramatic craggy wall sections it has typically strong currents that attract many species of pelagic fish. Black and whitetips are often seen whilst larger fish, attracted by the nutrients brought in by ocean currents include whale sharks, mola mola and mantas. Not for the faint hearted Pantee Peunateng is surely a wild experience.

Lekaun One, Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi: The infamous Lekaun dive sites have always been on many a travelers list whilst.

The reef flat that surrounds the island plunges to hundreds of meters creating a dramatic wall covered in hard and soft corals desperately competing for space. Hunting reefs sharks and trevally can often been seen working their way up the reef, whilst giant green turtles rest in the ledges of the wall.

The Passage, Raja Ampat: One of the more popular dive sites of Raja Ampat and only 5-10 meters deep it forms a river like sea fjord where many passages snake off to meet underwater grottoes. A truly mystical experience this is one of many in the region like it. The tree canopies overhead close above it whilst the sun rays bring out the dramatic colors of the reef.

Hairball, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi: For macro life there are few places on earth that can compare with the Lembeh Strait. The black sand slope at Hairball plays host to a huge abundance of marine life. On a typical dive here you can expect to find many types of octopus, snake eels, frog fish, star gazers and nudibranchs (sea slugs) where in other parts of the world these sightings would be few and far between.

Langkoi Rock, Komodo: A submerged pinnacle found not far from Langkoi Island to the Southwest of Komodo which makes an exhilarating dive. The walls that surround the pinnacle drop away steeply to great depths. Exposed to strong currents and surge, it attracts many types of shark including grey reefs, white tips, hammerheads and bronze whalers. Many believe it is a breeding ground for many grey reef sharks. Langkoi Rock is a truly heart pounding diving experience.

By :

a Little Bit of Paradise

2009-01-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

Whoever said there was no unspoiled beauty left in Florida has never been to Caladesi Island State Park. This diamond in the rough is one of the few remaining examples of a secluded island paradise. Four miles of undeveloped white sand beach and dunes line this island on the Gulf of Mexico, providing an ideal escape for sun worshippers and nature lovers.

In fact, Caladesi Island was voted number one in the Annual Top 10 Beaches ranking by coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of Coastal Research at Florida International University.

In addition to its beautiful beaches, the island boasts acres of lush mangrove forests; one of the few tree species that survives in salt water. The mangrove are also increasing the size of the island as their immense root system traps soil and continue to spread. Explore this area on foot via the three miles of trails or by kayak trails that intertwine through the forest. The vegetation on Caladesi Island provides an ideal nesting place for the gopher tortoise, loggerhead and green sea turtles, and the occasional Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

The beach at Caladesi is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Popular sightings include American oystercatchers, black skimmers, royal and least terns and snowy, Wilson's and piping plovers. On the bayside of the island watch for great blue herons, snowy egrets and roseate spoonbills. See if you can spot the osprey nests located atop barren pine snags.

By : v.k.-melhado

The Weird and Wonderful World of the Lembeh Strait

2009-01-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

North Sulawesi is located within the ‘Coral Triangle’, a territory which spreads from western Thailand all the way through eastern Indonesia. This is where many scientists believe life began in the ocean and it is widely thought that it holds the most bio diverse marine habitats on earth.

For this reason diving in Indonesia has been held in high regard amongst the diving community and North Sulawesi is no exception. To the east of Borneo and below the Philippines, Sulawesi is an oddly shaped island in the Celebes Sea. North Sulawesi refers to the most northerly point.

Just a few hundred meters offshore the continental shelf plunges towards the deep oceanic trenches which offers nutrient rich waters. The fact that evolution here has been uninterrupted for millions of year means that the marine life in this particular part of the Coral Triangle is extremely diverse Bunaken Island lies just a few kilometers offshore, a plateau extends from the island before reaching the drop off which descends to hundreds of meters. Coral life on the wall is extremely dense and different species both hard and soft compete for space. These particular walls have gone some way into making diving in Indonesia.

what it is today and draw traveling divers from all over the world. Large pelagics like Black and White Tip Sharks, Trevally and Napoleon Wrasse work their way up the reef, whilst Green Sea Turtles lodge themselves into the wall to rest. If you’ve got a skillful guide you might be able to see finger nail size Pygmy Seahorses latched onto Gorgonian Fans, not a common site even when you are diving in Indonesia.

The Lembeh Strait is a complete contrast in bottom topography in comparison to the walls Bunaken Island. Located off the eastern coast of North Sulawesi the Strait is a channel of water that lies between the landmass of Sulawesi and Lembeh Island. The shallow black sand slopes have created a truly unique marine habitat for the dwellers that have adapted themselves supremely to this environment. There are some coral reef formations but these are relatively few and far between. This is where life has come to compete against itself in which evolution has created many weird and wonderful creatures divers refer to as ‘critters’. Mimic Octopus have the ability to take the form of up to ten different types of other species including Lionfish, Snake Eels and Flounder in order to confuse predator and prey. Angler Fish dangle a lure just millimeters from their mouth in order to attract potential prey. Carrier Crabs camouflage and defend themselves by placing Sea Urchins on their shell whilst they make their way from one spot to another.

The contrast of Bunaken and Lembeh make diving in Indonesia even more attractive. For the traveling diver willing to go that extra mile for something special North Sulawesi will excite and intrigue for many visits.

By : Ben Stokes

Honeymoon in Paradise

2009-01-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Paradise. For some, the word conjures up images of white sand beaches, clear blue water and little fruity drinks. Not me. For me, terms like ‘white sand beaches and clear blue water’ sounds a little like the beginning of a worn out slogan, the tropical vacation version of ‘order now, operators are standing by’. It may be that I’m jaded by the over-the-top advertising or maybe I just imagine a white sand beach with 5000 overweight pasty Americans overrunning it. Whatever the case, I don’t want the same old thing.

My paradise is different. Since it’s a Honeymoon paradise, the most important element of course, is my significant other. For me, that’s all the people I really need. I want to spend time with my new bride, and share some experiences that are really different. We have beaches and fruity drinks in California, and picking from the top 10 vacations menu seemed like a sure-fire route to sameness. I recoil at sameness and thought I could do better for our honeymoon.

I thought about it. I looked on the web. I talked to people. I had always liked the green feeling of the Pacific Northwest, but the idea of a Honeymoon to Seattle didn’t really captivate me. I had loved learning to ski in Utah when I was young, and have always gravitated towards mountains, but my new bride loves the water (though not necessarily the beaches in the worn out brochure). The elements I wanted to include in our vacation seemed to be accumulating and I didn’t have a plan yet.

When I added something seemingly obscure to my wish list, the solution actually became easier. We had been to Alaska in 2001 on a bicycle ride to raise money for AIDS research and had experienced, albeit at a distance, the Matanuska glacier. We were intrigued by the idea of a glacier in person - climbing it, touching it, experiencing a frozen goliath that seemed ancient. We had an agenda though, and we moved on. The great Matanuska and the idea of a glacier experience was mostly forgotten. Until now.

Glaciers actually brought it together. The mountains, the water, fewer people, open, unspoiled nature and someplace we’d never been were the core pieces. When I added glaciers, something new popped up - Iceland. We wanted something different and exciting and we were going to get it. Yes, it is more than slightly north of the equator, with not so much of the fruity drinks.

There was to be one other benefit for me, too. Among the elements of an Icelandic adventure, I could squeeze in the guilty pleasure of a tour in a Super Jeep, or in American terms, a monster truck. If I offered my new bride a long weekend trip or short vacation stateside that centered around giant SUVs and off-road touring, there would have to be some reciprocal girly trip in recent context to pull that off, or maybe some jewelry. In Iceland, I figured we could do several things and when I brought up the Super Jeeps, she’d probably dig it. …I still stacked the deck by setting up a horseback riding day in advance.

How did it go?
The trip was a hit! From the moment that the crisp, clean air greeted us in Keflavik, we were in another world. We had trailside meals on a quiet mountainside, bathed in hot springs and heated lagoons (we had warmth and a beach, just not in the common way!) and rode Icelandic horses. We spent a little time in Reykjavik too, enjoying the nightlife a bit, but the time we spent outside was the best part of the experience. The trip was otherworldly and left us wanting to return. Fortunately, anniversaries provide a great reason to go back!

By : Dan Patrick

Holiday in the Bahamas

2009-01-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Bahamas with its 700 islands is truly a travellers’ paradise and with an almost endless amount of activities they have to offer, you won’t know where to start!

Exploring the Bahamas couldn’t be more adventurous by bicycle or just put on your sandals and take a stroll down the superb white sand beaches.

Two highly recommended islands to kick off the shoes and relax at are Nassau / Paradise Island and the Grand Bahama Island.

Nassau / Paradise Island:
Just 30 minutes away from Nassau is the Blue Lagoon Island where an unforgettable experience of a lifetime awaits, an opportunity to swim in the crystal-blue waters accompanied by one of natures’ friendliest creatures, the dolphin. The dolphin swim lasts for up to 30 minutes and you also have a chance in feeding and petting them under supervision.

Nassau has a number of different water sport activities to offer such as jet skiing, parasailing, canoeing, kite boarding, sailing, fishing and for those who are keen on diving but have never dived before, lessons available and in a few short hours you can explore Bahamas underwater life.

Activities on land include golf, cultural tours, casino games, night clubs, shopping at the straw markets and after a hard day of serious fun why not take a visit to the health spa for a relaxing massage to have you ready for the next day of adventure.

For a change of pace take a good book in one hand and an ice-cold tropical drink in the other, then take a leisurely stroll down to the beach and relax under an umbrella until the heart’s content.

Grand Bahama Island:
This tropical island is the four largest as well as the second most popular island in the Bahamas and is limitless with things to see and do.

You can scuba dive along coral reef accompanied by the dolphins or for a rush of adrenalin visit Unexso’s Shark junction and watch experienced staff hand-feed the reef sharks!

Tours for cave and wreck diving are also available as well as diving lessons.

Other water adventures include snorkelling the shallow coral reef, glass bottom boat rides, deep sea fishing, jet skiing, parasailing and much more.

Back on land you can challenge the golf course, play a game of volley ball or tennis and when the sun sets, hit the casino followed by a scrumptious meal in one of the oh so romantic restaurants.

Need some extra quiet time alone or with the partner? If so then try out the “Exotic Adventures” boat. With this charted boat the boundaries are almost endless. You can spend the day out sightseeing, fishing and snorkelling while exploring the beautiful, unspoilt and deserted islands of the Bahamas. For lunch you can have speared and freshly prepared fish by your captain and all of this at your own pace as there is no strict time table. Just perfect.

So for an unforgettable holiday, the Bahamas is a choice destination packed with fun, adventure, romance and so much more.

By : Dave

Dream Holidays in Barbados

2009-01-28T11:42:00.000-08:00

Barbados was voted as one of the Dream Holidays destinations in the world according to the Traveler’s Choice Destination Awards in 2008. This news does not come as a surprise as Barbados is one of the most beautiful islands of the Caribbean region. If you are still hesitant on why to spend your in Barbados, here are some good reasons for you.

Barbados is renowned for its beaches; it’s the ideal place to frolic into the blue sapphire waters and get your tan under the warm and golden sun. Endless sandy beaches and exotic landscape compose a super romantic ambience, suitable for couples who want to celebrate their love, or just spend some quality time away from the bustling city. It is said though that Barbados offers a chance for dream holidays to all kinds of visitors: families, couples or individuals can equally enjoy their time there, as the island can be a romantic getaway or a summer vacation place.

Barbados boasts nightlife that rivals even the Mediterranean islands. Nightlife is exciting and quite vibrant and diverse. There are numerous types of entertainment offered, as the nocturnal scene is quite versatile and rich. Although the entire city stays up all night long during the summer months, the devoted party goers are encouraged to stay mostly in the south part, due to the greater number of nightclubs onsite.

All Caribbean islands are known for their cuisine due to their flavours and colours, but Barbados sets the standards even higher; dining outlets of the island offer a sensual delight to the visitors, catering the most tasteful local specialties, but also famous dishes from the international cuisine. The Sunbury Plantation House and the Cobblers Cove restaurant are places one must visit.

Except for the nightlife, there is a wide array of day activities and entertainment options as well, consisting mostly of sea sports: surfing, snorkeling, submarine tours and diving are just a few of the activities you are more than welcome to try. Locals and tourists claim that the view of the coral reefs is an unforgettable experience. Golf enthusiasts are also encouraged to visit Barbados, as the island boasts some wonderful playing courses, offering magnificent vistas at the same time.

Barbados features some of the most impressive hotels and resorts in the Caribbean that promise you the Barbados dream holidays you desire, offering state of art service and well appointed amenities in very affordable prices

By : Darren Evans

Dream Holidays Cuba

2009-01-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

Travelling to Cuba is a dream for so many people, but once there they discover that it’s indeed the place for dream holidays. In fact when arriving in Cuba, you come across a wondrous world of contrasts, where Nature and architecture blend harmoniously in such a harmonious way that they promise a memorable time and stay. Cuba is famous for the warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants who will do their best to ensure a pleasant time for the visitors.

Cuba is considered to be a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, which comes as a result of five centuries of commerce and mixtures that left a unique racial diversity to the famous Caribbean island. Spanish, Africans, Northern and Southern Americans, even Asians live here in a very easygoing way. Cubans are very welcoming to the visitors and are friendly without mattering much about nationalities. They are great in organizing thematic and music nights, as they adore music and dance and always seem to find a reason to celebrate, despite their harsh conditions of living. Visitors who come to Cuba expect, thus, that their holidays will include many entertaining and fun moments.

Sea is an indispensable element of the Cuban culture and life. Seven thousands miles of coast, with sandy beaches and uniquely beautiful cliffs, bays and coves are waiting for you. Cuban beaches are famous all over the world, due to their beauty and warm waters; it is said that the temperature in sea water never goes below 20 C even in winter. The most renowned beaches in Cuba are the Varadero, Cayo Coco, Santa Maria Del Mar, Santa Lucia and Guardalavaca, where there are also numerous resorts offering state of art services to their guests.

When in Cuba you can expect luxury and enjoyable vacation; you will have the chance to unwind from the bustling city rhythms and have fun with the sun and sea, or practicing some fascinating sea sports available all over the island. In any case there are various dream holidays packages, if you are up to something off the beaten path: ecological tours, a travelling experience of the Cuban way of life, historical routes, scuba diving and sailing holidays – don’t forget that this is the Caribbean Sea - or tailor made packages where you can combine whatever you want to see and experience on this lovely and hospitable place.

Dream Holidays in Cuba are not a dream anymore; it’s more like a mandatory trip for those who want to experience a wonderful and different paradise island, as a bunch of isles, beaches, and colourful cities are there for you to discover

By : Darren Evans

Tomorrowland and Fantasyland

2009-01-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

Tomorrowland is the chain of theme lands that can be found at many Magic Kingdom type parks operated by the Walt Disney Company around the world. You can experience an astonishing age of tomorrow in Walt Disney’s Tomorrowland. Get the online because it is available in discounted rates. The Tomorrowland attractions are made in such a way that offers you the adventure that belongs to future world. Children as well as adults can learn many more things from these theme parks. Such parks have all those features that offer educational and entertainment venues.

Magic Kingdom has another fantastic area to offer and that is no other than Fantasyland. At the entrance Cinderella’s Castle is standing high and it is also the most photographed building at the Walt Disney World.

Fantasy Land Tickets
will allow you to experience the popular attractions and rides like Ariel’s Grotto, Snow Whites Scary Adventure, Peter Pan’s Flight; it’s a small world and Mad Tea Party. There are shopping venues like the Glass Slipper, Fantasy Gifts, the Mad Hatter, Pleasure Island Candies, etc. Moreover, Captain Hook’s Galley, Village Pastry, Queen of hearts Banquet Hall; Cleo’s are the dining places available in Fantasyland.

Florida is really a wonderful place to visit for people of all ages. The theme parks of Florida are well known for its alluring attractions, thrilling rides, wonderful sight seeing, and events. People from around the globe come here for relaxation. So, buy Florida Themepark Tickets and join the adventures that are available there in enormous number. The attractions like Water Park, amusement park, theme parks are of outstanding nature. If you experience these things once after that it will be very difficult on your part to leave them. And this exciting experience will make you come back again and again in Florida theme parks.

By : julismith

Komodo Island, the Lost World Was Found

2009-01-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

Sitting in a torrent of activity where the Pacific pours into the Indian Ocean, Komodo Island is home to a multitude of marine life. Simon Rogerson dips his fins in two worlds.

Amazing things happen when two oceans meet. At Komodo National Park in Indonesia - a relatively small stretch of sea around the famous 'dragon island' - cool upwellings from the Pacific are forced into relatively shallow water and then flood into the Indian Ocean. The area which sees this massive movement of water is marked by a few volcanic islands which conspire to create some of the most powerful and unpredictable currents on the planet.

It's a remarkable place - a hothouse for evolution and home to an incredible array of marine life. Of the 500 or so coral species found in the Indo-Pacific, Komodo has 260. It harbours more than 1,000 species of fish and 70 species of sponge. Acre for acre, it is one of the most diverse coral reef environments in the world.

My journey began on the 42m Kararu, a traditional rigged sailing vessel which serves as an extremely spacious liveaboard. It operates from Bali, 160 miles to the west, but the journey to and from Komodo is punctuated by dive sites which are fascinating in their own right, and serve as a build-up to the world-class diving at Komodo and its neighbouring island, Rinca. My host was the boat's co-owner, Tony Rhodes, a Brit with an easy manner and a knack for spotting near-microscopic animals.

On an early dive at a site called Mentjang Wall, we were finning along in mid-water when Tony suddenly swooped down to the reef. I followed, squinting at the scrappy patch of coral to which he was pointing. At first nothing, then I could make out a tiny brownish nudibranch (of the Flabellinidae family). He had seen it from 10m away! Suspicious, I wondered if he had sneakily placed it there when I wasn't looking, possibly inspired by Donald Pleasence's similar trick in The Great Escape.

As I was to discover, his spotting skills were quite genuine. While there are plenty of sizeable creatures to marvel at in Indonesia, the area does tend to attract divers with a penchant for the diminutive. These are rich seas, and there is a perpetual battle for space on the reefs. After just a few days, your eyes become familiar with the environment, so that semi-camouflaged critters begin to reveal themselves. Professional dive guides become finely attuned to this sort of diving.

Komodo National Park comprises the seas around the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and some smaller islands. It's a two-wetsuit trip: on the northern side of the islands, the water is warm, and most people dive comfortably with the thinnest of skins. Cool, nutrient-rich upwellings prevail on the southern side, where 5mm suits, hoods and gloves are the order of the day.

These islands act like a dam, holding back the warmer Pacific waters, which are then forced through various straits, creating a pressure void along the park's southern side. This allows cold water from the Sumba Sea to rise up, effectively replacing the water removed by the currents at the surface. With the cold water comes a bloom in phytoplankton, forming the basis of Komodo's super-charged food chain. It is a very, very special place indeed.

The results of these crazy upwellings are best experienced at Horseshoe Bay on Rinca's southern side. These are the most crowded reefs I have ever seen, but the payoff is low visibility caused by all those nutrients suspended in the water. Horseshoe Bay's famous site is a pinnacle known as Cannibal Rock (named after a monstrous Komodo dragon seen eating one of its own kind nearby), where dense swathes of black, yellow and red crinoids jostle for space.

It's a great place to test buoyancy skills, because crinoids stick to neoprene like glue; any contact whatsoever and you've got yourself a hitchhiker. Once, after taking head-on photographs of an implacable lizardfish, I looked down to find I had picked up two featherstars complete with clingfish and crinoid shrimps - a whole ecosystem! I guiltily set them back on the reef.

Just outside Horseshoe Bay is a fascinating site known as the Great Yellow Wall of Texas, renowned for its soft corals. Visibility here was reminiscent of British shore-diving standards, and the coral polyps were all retracted, so I hardly saw the reef in all its glory. Still, I could appreciate the sheer intensity of the place. Nestling among the crinoid forest were some fascinating animals, including brightly coloured sea apples, a spectacular member of the sea slug family. Tiny hawkfish nestled between the fronds of soft corals, while gobies darted around their tiny territories.

Night dives were even more atmospheric. The currents sweeping over Cannibal Rock were too much to cope with after dark, so we searched for night creatures in the shallows. At first glance, the sandy expanses were devoid of life, but a closer inspection revealed a wealth of nocturnal drama. Octopus each the size of a child's fist moved over the sand, extending their tentacles into tiny holes as they hunted for suitably small prey. Every now and then, they would retract their foraging limbs in pain, having received a nip from some hidden sand-dweller.

Inshore sites often serve as nurseries. I saw lots of tiny fish, including juvenile oriental sweetlips (flapping wildly like some out-of-control bumblebee) and a rockmover wrasse complete with protruding unicorn's horn. Photographers found the night dives to be the most productive of all, and some would sacrifice an afternoon dive to be alert for the evening.

The best night dive took place beyond Horseshoe Bay on a sandy slope near Banta Island. The site has a particularly cheesy name - 'It's a Small World' - which nevertheless hints at the macro wonders which have made it their home. I dropped in and descended 10m to what looked to be a lunar landscape, devoid of life. The gritty sand billowed briefly into the water column as I landed on the sea bed and looked down to see a skeletal face leering back with utter contempt.

It was a stargazer, a voracious lunge-predator whose stealth is rivalled only by its monumental ugliness. It buries itself in sand right up to its eyes, then waits for a suitable morsel to happen along. Ambush predators don't like being seen, and this one looked up at me with undisguised disgust as I gently fanned the sand away from its fearsome features. Eventually, the indignity of being exposed in this way proved too much; it launched itself off the sand and sped off into the darkness.

I enjoy watching other divers at night. Despite the best intentions of the buddy system, there is something about the combination of shallow, current-free sites and diving by torchlight which internalizes the diving experience. Divers retreat into themselves, their attention focused chiefly on the thin column illuminated by their lights. I hovered behind a professional videographer, Roger Munns of Scubazoo (the film-making outfit based in Southeast Asia) fame, who had found a handsome red frogfish - okay, 'handsome' isn't a word often associated with frogfish, but we're talking 'eye of the beholder' here, okay?

As he trained his video lights on the frogfish, the brightness attracted a small food chain. Driven by some inexplicable urge, tiny worms massed around the lights in writhing density. They in turn attracted the attention of some cardinalfish, which foolishly took the frogfish to be a lump of coral. They were soon disabused of this notion as the predator extended its jaws and sucked a hapless cardinalfish into its maw.

This super-gulp is too fast to see. Later, watching Roger's footage on an iBook laptop, we studied the lunge frame by frame. You see the frogfish give a dainty little leap, and there is a slight blur around its mouth as it takes the fish, but the movement itself is too fast even for a professional-quality video recording in slow motion mode. Viewed at normal speed, the frogfish twitches slightly and the cardinalfish simply disappears.

In addition to illustrating the efficiency of the frogfish's feeding mechanism, this episode revealed to me the depth of the cardinalfish's stupidity. The 'not exactly quick on the uptake' survivors kept returning to the lights, and the frogfish enjoyed a further six courses while the cardinalfish doubtless wondered where all their companions had gone. By the time I had sidled in to photograph the frogfish, it was noticeably bulkier and appeared to have a case of the hiccups.

Providing a contrast to Komodo's macro dives is a great manta site off the island of Langkoi, a busy little channel where the graceful rays can be seen feeding on plankton-loaded water. Langkoi's mantas are among the biggest I have ever seen, some even approaching the legendary 6m mark.

It was a pleasure to dispense with the hood and gloves when our boat Kararu returned to the balmy sites of the north. Here, I was presented with dizzyingly clear water and some classically beautiful reefs. There were plenty of reef fish, but I saw little in the blue, despite the preternatural clarity of the water. Occasionally, schools of barracuda, jacks or bannerfish would appear, but there were no sharks or tuna. This is the case across much of these islands, where shark-finning has decimated reef shark populations over the past decade. Illegal shark fishing and even dynamite bombing still takes place in Komodo National Park, despite its protected status.

Still, conservation efforts at Komodo - reinforced by the presence of tourism - have succeeded in preserving vast tracts of reef. These reefs have an additional importance which transcends the pleasure they give divers. The coral here is especially resilient to the effects of coral bleaching caused by factors such as global warming and El Niño. This is due to the upwelling effect of cooling water from the depths of the Sumba Sea.

Marine biologists believe that as coral reef systems continue to be lost, it is places such as Komodo that will replenish and re-colonize devastated habitats elsewhere in Indonesia and the wider Indo-Pacific. The same currents which make life so difficult (if entertaining) for divers, carry coral larvae beyond the national park to places where reef space is available. In this sense, Komodo is a mother among coral reefs, and one we should all cherish.

By : Alexandra

Motorbiking in Indonesia Offers a Unique Cultural View Into Daily Life

2009-01-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

The cost to rent a motorbike in Indonesia is $2 US per day and it is an experience you won’t forget. Cars, trucks, motorbikes, bikes and pedestrians are zooming every which way, all participating in a delicate dance of organized chaos on the narrow two lane roads lacking shoulders or sidewalks. Admittedly, the feeling is simultaneously both exhilarating and frightening. When in Indo do as the Indonesians do, right?

With the warm wind blowing on our faces we are quite fortunate to witness daily Indonesian life. Hindu temples with intricate carvings are interspersed in the villages between shanty-like brick and plaster buildings. Ladies donning a cotton t-shirt and brightly printed sarong carry a tray of palm leaf boxes full of flowers and the occasional cracker as a daily offering to the gods and gently place it on a doorstep. Sadly, the garbage business doesn't seem to exist so instead rubbish is liberally strewn about. A small fire crackles along the roadside and the smell of burning plastic negatively greets our nose. Another small fire burns and just as suddenly the beautiful aroma of barbecue meat passes by.

Then we pass a bus or a motorbike spitting out black fumes from the exhaust pipe as I quickly pull up a bandanna over my scrunched face while emaciated stray dogs sleep and trot along the dirt roadside. Shops and storefronts line the streets selling nasi goreng (a popular rice dish), bottled beverages, knicknacks and petrol out of an old Absolut vodka bottle. We stop to fill up since the petrol station was out of gas and the locals immediately engage with us. "Where are you going? Where are you coming from?" They want to know. It is important for them to know.

We communicate with hand gestures and broken English before we graciously say terima kasih(thank you). Up and over the hill and occasional pothole or dirt road section we come upon an incredible panoramic vista of rice paddies dotted with workers wearing triangular straw hats.

The mountainsides are covered in brilliant green palm trees and the sea shows off blues varied from aquamarine and turquoise to a deeply brilliant purple. The dark brown hard-lined faces of men and women of all ages glance up at us from rock quarries of a grueling day's work. Old ladies in printed dresses walk with a giant u-shape curved knife in one hand and a bundle of sugarcane on the other shoulder. Children dressed in uniform walking home from school wave and give us the wonderful gift of a giant, white tooth smile and a boisterous "allo!" and the occasional high five. We are a bit of a wonder, these white-skinned Europeans passing through their small village - no doubt a story to tell their friends.

The items carried on a motorbike still leaves me in awe. It's quite common to see two adults on a bike with a baby, or sometimes even a baby and a small child - the local family wagon going where is necessary. Ladies riding side-saddle breast feeding a small child. Men carrying a giant stack of cardboard boxes, a stick of bamboo four meters long (where is the red flag!?), a giant birdcage balanced on the back, half of them not wearing a helmet and every man over the age of 18 with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

As we drove from Banko Banko in Lombok to the ferry to Gili Trawangan Island, we took a much needed break to rest our sore behinds and relish in a pug of water on the roadside. We happened to stop in a Muslim village across from a school classroom. As if the school children took a break to watch us kids covered the windows with waves and smiles to stare at us from across the narrow street. While I searched for a restroom (to no avail), a teacher's aid in the alleyway eyed my husband and gingerly blew kisses at him. We stopped to talk with a few children who were asking the ubiquitous "Where are you going? Where did you come from?" with more smiles and engaged in a broken conversation. It was a delight to experience.

By : Stacy Bergdahl

Scuba Diving in the Red Sea

2009-01-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

People traveling to Egypt do not do so only to view the many fascinating historical sites stretching up and down the Nile River. They also come to take in the glories of the far Western Desert and its five large oases. Visitors also enjoy trekking and exploring through the Eastern Desert and the Sinai Peninsula as well. Currently, however one of the strongest reasons that people from around the world plan a visit is to enjoy the scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt.

Scuba diving in Egypt? Absolutely! In fact, the eastern coast of continental Egypt and the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula (which is a territory of Egypt) are frequently referred to as the “Red Sea Riviera”. This is for several reasons, but primarily due to the charming towns and villages that have grown to accommodate the enormous number of visitors who make a point of scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt.

The waters are famous for their remarkable conditions and sea life. Travelers to any of the popular towns and resorts along the coastal areas can learn how to snorkel, scuba dive, kite sail, surf and many other activities in this excellent region.

Scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt has become so popular in fact that the government has deemed most of the area as a protected region. Because the bulk of the waters off of Egypt’s Red Sea coast are protected many visitors hoping to enjoy scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt will have to book passage with a diving company or private guide service. While this may sound like an annoyance, the reality is that divers frequently comment on the uncrowded conditions and the peaceful environment in which they experienced the diversity of wildlife and scenery beneath the waves.

The popularity of scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt has created an enormous range of accommodations from which visitors may choose. This includes many all inclusive resorts, with luxury amenities and diving certification courses. It also includes vacation rentals, which provide access to a private home or condominium in the town or nearby harbor. Finally, there are traditional hotels which deliver excellent service with Egypt’s traditional and famous hospitality.

Additionally, the large numbers of tourists who choose to enjoy their scuba diving in this area have also motivated some small fishing villages to develop into significantly larger towns. Some provide incredible shopping and dining, while others are known as excellent spots to enjoy international night life. Clearly, scuba diving in the Red Sea, Egypt is a great way to plan an excellent vacation.

By : Mahallati