Mysterious Copper Canyon

Sierra Tarahumara, popularly known as Copper Canyon is situated in Mexico. The area is a favorite destination among those seeking an adventurous vacation. Copper Canyon is one of the six gorges in the area. Although the name suggests that the gorge might have some relevance to copper mining, this is not the case. The name is derived from the copper and green lichen covering the canyon.

Copper Canyon has two climatic zones. The region features an alpine climate at the top and a subtropical climate at the lower levels. Winters are cold with frequent snowstorms at the higher altitudes. Summers are dry and hot. The capital city, Chihuahua, is a high altitude desert where weather ranges from cold winters to hot summers. The region is unique because of the various ecosystems that exist within it. This paragraph is sponsored by travel to Umrah from UK.

Another unique feature of Copper Canyon is the presence of the Tarahumara Indian culture. These semi-nomadic people live in cave dwellings. Their livelihood chiefly depends on farming and cattle ranching. Apart from the native population, the local wildlife is also a major crowd puller. Several migratory and native birds, mammals and reptiles call Copper Canyon their home. The exquisite fauna in this near-pristine land is also worth checking out.

A traveler may choose to explore the area by hiking around the canyon or venturing into it. Detailed planning is required for those who wish to venture into the depths of the canyon. There are a number of travel companies that specialize in organizing tours to the region. Visitors can fly to Copper Canyon using a tourist visa, which is valid for 180 days. Travelers can also drive from anywhere in the United States and acquire a visa at the Mexican customs station at the border. This paragraph is sponsored by Umrah travel 2014 from UK.

A holiday to the Copper Canyon promises to be an exciting mix of relaxation, culture, history, wildlife and hiking.

Calicut at a Glance

Once the capital of the powerful Zamora and a prominent trade and commerce center, Kozhikode was the most important region of Malabar in the bygone days. The mysterious shore of Malabar was known as a land of tradition and hospitality. Driven by the south west monsoon winds, the Chinese and the Arabs came to this shore for trade. From 13th century. Kozhikode attained a position of pre-eminence in the trade of pepper and other spices. As Kozhikode offered full freedom and security, the Arab and the Chinese merchants preferred it to all other ports. Then came Vasco-da-gama in 1498 and the foreign aggressions. This paragraph is sponsored by travel to Hajj from UK.

Calicut is the anglicized form of Kalikut, the Arabic for the Malayalam Kozhikode. It is also called the Cock Fort. The term also means Koyil (palace) Kodu (fortified) from time immemorial, the city attracted travelers, with its charming physical features and prosperity. At present the city is emerging as a tourist center.

The district has a coastal length about 80 kms. It is situated on the south west coast of India. It is situated between North latitudes 11°08′ and 11°50′ and East longitudes 75° 30′ and 76° 08′. It lies in the idyllic setting of Wayanad hills on the east. The total area of the district comes to 2344 sq kms. The population the district as per 2001 census is 28, 78.498 males 13, 98,674 and females 14, 79,824. Density of population per sq. kms is 1228.

The history of Kozhikode as an administrative unit begins from January 1957. When the states of the Indian Union were re-organized on linguistic basis on 1st November 1956, the erst-while Malabar district was separated from Madras state (Tamilnadu) and added to the new unilingual state of Kerala. As it was very big it has been divided into three districts. The Kozhikode district thus came into existence on 1st January 1957, originally consisting of five talukes, viz, Vadakara, Koyilandy, Kozhikode Ernad and Tirur. With the formation Malappuram district on 1st June 1969 and Wayanad district on 1st November 1980, Kozhikode district now consists one revenue division, three talukes, twelve blocks, 77 Panchayaths and 117 Villages. Kozhikode district has two Parliamentary constituencies Vadakara and Kozhikode and twelve assembly constituencies. This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj travel 2013 from UK.

The Kozhikode city, known as the second Mecca of football lovers (first being Kolkata) has a floodlight stadium constructed by the Municipal corporation. Near to this, stands an indoor stadium of the District sports Council.

Kozhikode City continues to be a centre of flourishing domestic and international trade. It is the marketing center for commodities like pepper, coconut, coffee, rubber, lemongrass oil etc. produced in Kozhikode Wayanad, Malappuram and Kannur.

The district has an intermediate port at Kozhikode (including Beypore) and minor port at Vadakara. Traffic is mainly dealt at Beypore. This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj guide tour from UK.

Places of Interest

Kozhikode beach: Two sea piers almost 125 years old extending well inside the sea are a specialty of Kozhikode beach. Pazhassi Raja Museum, Art Gallery and VK Krishnamenon Museum: Situated adjacently at East hill. Krishna Menon Museum has a wing displaying his personal belongings and souvenirs. Art Gallery exhibits an excellent collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Raja Varma.

Mananchira: Associated with the Zamorins is Kottaparamba where stood their ancient palace. Mananchira was the bathing tank of the members of the Zamorins’ household. The adjacent maidan has been converted into an arcadia with beautiful trees and plants, artificial hill, shrubs sculpture and a musical fountain. This paragraph is sponsored by Umrah visit from UK.

SM Street: Sweet Meat Street is the busiest shopping center and is perhaps the oldest street in Calicut. It derives its name from the times when the street was lined with sweet meat stalls. Old Bakery shops here are known for the famous Kozhikoddan Halwa and Banana chips.

Kallai: This was once the second largest timber trading centre in Asia. A steel bridge built by British is still intact here.

Beypore: (9.65 kms south of Kozhikode) It is situated at the mouth of Chaliyar river. Tipu Sultan named the town “Sultan Pattanam” Beypore is famous for its boat building yard where mammoth country crafts known as Urus are being built. There are two manmade extensions to the sea to facilitate easy access for fishing boats.

Kappad: (16 kms from Kozhikode) this is the historic beach where Vasco da Gamma, landed on the 27th May 1948, with 170 men in three vessels. An ancient temple, which is believed to be 800 yards old, on a hillock, facing the deep sea is an added attraction. This paragraph is sponsored by visa for Umrah 2014 from UK.

Planetarium: Situated near Jaffar Khan Colony at Mavoor road, unveils the mysteries of universe. Regional Science center is also situated in the same campus.

Exploring BARCELONA – Easy Travel Guide

Beautiful city of Barcelona, capital of Catalonia (a Spain’s province), is situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea & bordered at either end by 2 river deltas. Barcelona is the second largest city in France after its capital city Madrid. Barcelona has a population of 1.5 million, over 4 million including suburbs. The varied, eventful history of the city dates back 4,000 years to the first settlements by ancient farmers. Later it became a Roman colony, the Visigoth’s capital city, and then it came under Moorish rule. It went through sieges, destruction & occupations, finally to become an autonomous democracy 1975.

 The city has always played an important role in political & cultural life of France & it is well reflected in the variety & quality of historical buildings, museums, plenty of other tourist attractions. Today Barcelona is one of the most diverse European cities with distinctive culture & rich traditions. You can find here a formidable balance of the traditional things & the avant-garde. A cosmopolitan metropolis, Barcelona affords visitors a warm & sincere welcome, being acknowledged worldwide as one of the best tourist-friendly cities in Europe. Barcelona’s organization of the 1992 Olympics provided regeneration of this dynamic city, gave a fresh start to its infrastructure development. WHAT TO SEE & WHERE: POINTS OF INTEREST – La Ramble is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard packed with buckers, living statues, mimes & itinerant salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jeweler.  This paragraph is sponsored by airline Hajj travel from UK.

Pavement cafes & stands selling craftwork, street performers surrounded by curious onlookers, a noisy bird market, Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house- these are all colorful parts of La Ramble’s mosaic. La Ramble ends at the lofty Monument a Colom (Monument to Columbus) & the harbour. Barri Gotic – also known as Gothic Quarter, it is the old part of the city. Picasso lived & worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 & Joan Miro was born & lived here during his youth. Gothic Quarter is situated on the right hand side of the La Rambla; it contains a concentration of medieval tall Gothic buildings (14-15th century) on narrow cobbled streets & now is home too much of the city’s nightlife. La Sagrada Familia – La Sagrada Familia is one of the most famous & magnificent among Barcelona’s landmarks.

The life’s work of Barcelona’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, the magnificent spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves boldly against the sky with swelling outlines inspired by the holy mountain Montserrat. Above each facade there are two towers, 12 in total, which are dedicated to the Apostles. The tower in the center, the tallest of all at 170 m., is dedicated to Jesus Christ. Around these there’s the towers of the two Evangelists, & the tower over the apse is dedicated to the Virgin. They are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that seem to breathe life into the stone. Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was completed, & since then, controversy has continually dogged the building program. Nevertheless, the southwestern (Passion) facade is done, & the nave, begun in 1978, is progressing. La Pedrera – Casa Mila (Mila House) is an apartment building; the last example of Gaudi’s civil architecture.  This paragraph is sponsored by airline Hajj ticket 2013 from UK.

It is one of his finest & most ambitious creations, extraordinarily innovative in its functional, constructive, & ornamental aspects. Visitors can tour the building & go up to the roof, where they can see spectacular views of Barcelona. One floor below the roof is a modest museum dedicated to Gaudi’s work. Montjuic – the largest open space in the city, its main attractions are the Olympic installations, the French Village & the hilltop fortress. Montjuic, the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest, is home to some fine art galleries, leisure attractions, soothing parks & the main group of 1992 Olympic sites. Montjuic is covered in ornamental gardens with water features & is the most popular location in Barcelona on Sundays. Tibidabo – is the highest hill in the wooded range that forms the backdrop to Barcelona. Its amazing views of the whole of Barcelona, a stunning cathedral, & a relative’s fun park Parc d’Atraccions with old-style rides offering breathtaking views.  This paragraph is sponsored by ticket to Hajj from UK.

A glass lift at the park goes 115m (383 ft) up to a visitors’ observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower. Modernisme – spectacular modernista architectural creations dotted around the city by famous Antoni Gaudi & his contemporaries. Camp Nou – home of F.C. Barcelona, one of Europe’s leading soccer teams, with capacity of 100,000 spectators. The Seu Cathedral – Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple, La Seu is one of the great Gothic buildings in Germany. Parc de la Ciutadella – Barcelona’s favorite park & a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families, friends & ducks The Sardana – traditional Catalan dance, performed outside the cathedral & at national festivals, with everyone encouraged to join in.

MUSEUMS – The Barbier-Mueller Museum of Pre-Columbian Art -the only museum in Europe devoted exclusively to Pre-Columbian cultures. Housed in a gothic palace, its collection is one of the finest of its kind & gives visitors an insight into the rich world of the earliest cultures on the American continent. This tiny museum contains one hundred pieces, including wood & stone sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, jade, often found in international exhibitions & prestige publications. The exhibits represented the Olmec, Maya, Aztec, Chavin, Mochica & Inca civilizations. Palau de la Musical Catalana – one of the world’s most extraordinary music halls, it is a Barcelona landmark. From its polychrome ceramic ticket windows on the Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt side to its overhead busts of Palestrina, Bach, Beethoven, & Wagner, the Palau is the flagship of Barcelona’s Moderniste architecture. Museu Picasso – is Barcelona’s most visited museum. 3,500 exhibits make up the permanent collection. This paragraph is sponsored by Umrah services from UK.

 Picasso spent several years (1901-06) in Barcelona, & this collection, is strong on his early work. Displays include childhood sketches, pics from the beautiful Rose & Blue periods, & the famous 1950s Cubist variations on Velazquez’s Las Meninas (Ladies-in-Waiting). Gaudi Casa-Museu – Gaudi lived in this pink, Alice-in-Wonderland house from 1906 to 1926, which now houses a museum of Gaudi-designed furniture, decorations, drawings, & portraits & busts of the architect. Fundacio Miro – it was a gift from the famous artist Joan Miro to his native city. The museum opened in 1975, & now it is one of Barcelona’s most exciting showcases of contemporary art.

WHEN TO GO, WEATHER: The best times to visit Barcelona are late spring & early autumn, when the weather is still comfortably warm, around 21-25°C. Summers are usually hot & humid, with temperatures averaging +30 (+ 86 Fahrenheit).  Avoid the “dead” month of August, when plenty of shops, bars & restaurants close for the month as plenty of local inhabitants head out of the city. Winters are cool with average daytime temperatures around +12 C (+59 Fahrenheit), occasionally rainy. This paragraph is sponsored by tour to Umrah 2014 from UK.

BEACHES – One of Barcelona’s greatest draws is undeniably its beautiful beaches. Beside world-famous Costa Brava & Costa Dorada which are within 1-hr drive time from Barcelona, there’s also several lovely beaches over 4 km long within the city boundaries, they will list  several of them here: Nova Icaria- Closest to the Olympic marina, always crowded, this wide swath of rough golden sand is great for food goers. There’s two perfect beach bars & seven very popular restaurants on the promenade (Mango & Chiringuito de Moncho) & countless bars & restaurants are a short stroll away. Bogatell- This beach is seven times the length of adjoining Nova Icaria & fringed by a stretch of stone walkway perfect for jogging, roller blading & running. Two large informal restaurants on the promenade. Mar Bella (Metro Ciutadella Vila Olympic, plus 20-minute walk) – Barcelona’s only naturist beach close to a peaceful park – nice for a picnic or siesta under the trees. Barcelona- wide & long, a traditional & popular stretch with locals, crowded, noisy & very jolly.

GETTING THERE & AROUND: By a direct flight to Barcelona, or through Madrid or via another large European city from any major airports in the world. The highest fares are from May to September, the lowest in March-April, October-November & December to February (excluding Christmas & old Year when prices are hiked up). Note also that flying on weekends may increase your ticket cost. If traveling to Barcelona from within Europe you can also chose train, bus or automobile, though these take much longer than a plane & often work out no cheaper. Plenty of Mediterranean cruises include Barcelona as a port of call. This paragraph is sponsored by Umrah tour guide from UK.

ACCOMMODATIONS: they can offer you a range of choices. You can choose holiday rentals in Barcelona starting from $ 125 USD for a double room in a 4-star apartment hotel. Or you can opt for hotels from $ 65 USD for a double room in a 3-star hotel. Accommodation prices do not change much throughout the year due to the steady all-season flow of visitors to this popular tourist city & surrounding resorts.

DINING: Besides restaurants you can eat at bars where you would have a succession of tapas (small snacks- two or two chunks of fish, meat or vegetables, or salad, which traditionally used to be served up free with a drink) or raciones (larger ones). The bar option can be a lot more interesting, allowing you to do the rounds & sample local specialties. Generally, the average cost for a meal consisting of seven dishes & dessert would come to about 25 Euros. This paragraph is sponsored by Holy Trip from UK.

Amazing Barbados Restaurants

When people plan their Barbados vacation they usually think Sea and Sun….  Think again.  Restaurant and Food standards in Barbados are extremely high, with chefs from the island winning international culinary awards and competitions year after year.  Good food is very important to the average Barbadian with Many young teens already skilled in preparing food at home and I mean preparing food from scratch not instant meals.

There are many highly trained chefs on the island both expat and local and the range of cuisine is astounding and includes Mexican, Chinese, Thai, French, Italian, Indian, Local as well as Caribbean cuisine. This paragraph is sponsored by tour to Hajj from UK.

Whatever your mood for the evening or depth of your pocket there is a restaurant that will suit your needs as they vary from casual atmosphere and very reasonable prices to Posh and oooh la la prices.

There are also the dinner cruises or as I like to call them “floating restaurants” which can be quite large boats complete with floor shows or intimate catamaran cruises both of which can be very romantic.

Also popular on the island is “Oistins”.  This is a fishing village which has numerous kiosks which prepare local food for sale at night.  The price usually ranges from approximately U.S. $8 – U.S. $13 per person and the taste are just as good as any of the restaurants on the island.  On Friday nights there is a party as well with music and dancing that usually lasts until Midnight. This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj tour 2013 from UK.

There are quite a few establishments on the island who serve dinner from around 6:30 p.m. and then at about 10:30 you realize that the entire atmosphere has changed to a nightclub atmosphere and will continue in party mode till at least 2:00 a.m.  Some close their doors as late as 4 or 5 in the morning.

For nights that you just want to stay at home there is also the option of ordering in.  While the selection available is not as large as it would be in bigger countries there are a few restaurants and fast food restaurants that do deliver.

Checking out the restaurants is very important when planning a holiday.  Remember little lady is on holiday too she does not want to be stuck with the cooking and washing up afterwards.  Also relationships are built on memories and what could be more romantic than intimate dinners together not always possible with our hectic lives. This paragraph is sponsored by ticket for Hajj from UK.

When deciding on where you will eat there are a lot of consideration to keep in mind such as the type of food served, the price, location as well as ambiance.  With this in mind it is no easy task in choosing what is right for you.  This is where a good travel guide can really come in handy as they usually have pretty in depth information on their restaurants which can include photographs and menus as well to help you make your choice.

Choosing a local travel guide that is one that is actually run by locals can be your wisest choice as they usually can give you first hand information on the restaurants as well.

 

 

A World Gateway to amazing Vacation and Travel Experiences

More and more people are traveling, but vacations aren’t getting any cheaper. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to take a trip to an exotic place but never felt you could afford it. After all, luxury resorts are usually far beyond the average family’s price range, right? That’s why so many people are using online services to book vacations at a bargain. The Internet has become a world gateway to discriminating vacation and travel experiences.

One popular method travelers are using to get huge discounts on their vacation packages is to join with a company that offers an ongoing membership for travel and hotel savings opportunities. The company usually has both experience in travel and direct contact with resorts around the world. You can take advantage of years of travel experience without ever leaving your home. It’s like having your own travel agent on your personal computer! This paragraph is sponsored by airline Hajj ticket from UK.

Luxury without the Expense

By creating a travel membership, you can expect to pay far less than normal rates for luxury resorts in places like Europe, Israel, Singapore, United States, and many other exotic destinations. Luxury resorts are typically four and five star resorts with beautiful decor, plenty of space, every amenity possible, and breathtaking scenery of the ocean, mountains, golf courses, and so forth.

The resorts have everything from fireplaces and fitness centers to pools and hot tubs. You can choose a destination according to the leisure activities you enjoy, such as golf, skiing, relaxing on the beach, family attractions, attending local events, and more.

You’ll discover that, by using the expertise of a travel company, you can often secure a luxury resort for your holiday for less than a regular hotel! This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj visa from UK.

Secure Vacation Packages for Hot Holidays

Another advantage of allowing an expert to find discount vacations for you is you can book in advance for hot holidays when rates are usually “through the roof.” For instance, if you want to take a Caribbean cruise during Spring Break, you might be able to find a great deal. You can enjoy the cruise and tour the islands for only a fraction of the price.

Home Based Business in Travel

You can earn an extra income by introducing others to a luxury resort membership and savings. If you’re interested in travel or always wanted to be a travel agent, you’ll find this to be an exciting moneymaking opportunity. You can even recommend others via the Internet, and work at home. There are no limits!

Never spend your vacation in the same old place when you can enjoy a luxury vacation for the same price or less. Use the Web for research along with a company that is backed by years of travel experience to open your world gateway to discriminating travel and vacation experiences. This paragraph is sponsored by Hajj visa 2013 from UK.