Upon its inauguration on August 2009, the Deca Wakeboarding Park has instantly become the newest waterpark craze in Philippines. It is located near the area of Tugbok and Mintal in Davao City.

The Rates & Schedules

The Deca Wakeboarding Park is opened during weekdays (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays) and weekends (Saturday and Sunday) usually from 8:30 – 12:30 PM then 1:30 – 5:30 PM.

• Whole Day: Php 1000
• Half Day: Php 7000
• For Davao Residents: Php 700 (Whole Day), Phph 500 (Half Day)
• For Deca Homes Resort Residences: Php 500 (Whole Day), Php 350 (Half Day)
  

There are special rates and passes during Wednesdays. On that day, the park will be opened at 10:30 in the morning until 12:30 PM. It opens again at 1:30 PM and the closing time is 5:30 PM.

• Whole Day: Php 800
• Half Day: Php 550 (morning only) Php 700 (afternoon only)
• For Davao Residents: Php 600 (Whole Day), Php 400 (morning only), Php 500 (afternoon only)
• For Deca Homes Resort Residences: Php 500 (Whole Day), Php 350 (morning or afternoon)
  

Expansion & Beyond

Upgrades and expansions are still going on. Although the place is still incomplete, many people foresee services and accommodations in the place will not disappoint their expectations. As of the moment, their limited accommodation includes an overnight stay at their private rooms ideally made for four persons only, which the price clocks at Php 1000. Amenities also get better and the place continues to improve their Cable Park, restaurants, sports shop and massage center.

How to Get in Deca Wakeboarding Park

It is recommended to ride a taxi of about Php 200 or 300 from downtown area or Davao International Airport, respectively. A mini-bus is also available if you’ll from Bangkerohan Market while an air-conditioned bus will take you to the park if you’ll from Calinan, Bukidnon or Cagayan de Oro.

Who can imagine that the ideal escapades of your lifetime are found in the north western part of Island Garden City of Samal? History tells us that the term Samal was first used in the earliest days and it referred to many tribal groups living on the island (Sama). Today, the entire Island Garden City has 46 barangays and becomes a part of Metro Davao.

It is also the home of over forty beach resorts with finest accommodations and amenities. Visit one of these beach resorts and you’ll surely forget all the stress and pressures an urban city has given you. The one question you might have now is: What’s the one best resort of all?

Luckily, there are more than two answers to that question. It’s good that you are reading this article and let me enumerate to you the four of the most excellent resorts in Samal.

• Blue Water Beach Resort. This fantastic Mediterranean beach resort offers you Apartels, clubhouse, pavilions and cottage units ideal for seminars and other occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and honeymoon. The royal sea shores also become its strongest attraction due to its pure white sand and incredible highlights.
  

• Bali-Bali Beach. This is a semi-private beach resort in which its name Bali-Bali originally derived from Pangasinan meaning “beautiful.” The accommodation, along with its various amenities, such as Clubhouses and Anahaw Pavilion offers exquisite services and it can certainly satisfy your innermost cravings.
  

• Pearl Farm Beach Resort. The Pearl Farm is considered as one of the first-rate beach resorts in the Island Garden City of Samal. There are a number of remarkable accommodations such as Cottages, Villas, Hilltop Rooms and Mandaya Rooms to lodge in. The infinity and swimming pools certainly look alluring, which can truly charm every man’s attention.
  

• Maxima Beach Resort. The Maxima Rest House is your perfect getaway from all the noises, which is situated at the center of an ocean. All what your heart’s desires such as swimming, snorkeling, fishing, rafting etc. are all here while you get all the support during your stay, just like you are resting inside your house.
  

What is Grand Canal?

As one of the most important waterway in the city of Venice in Italy, the Grand Canal runs two miles long, thirty–ninety meters in width and with an average depth of five meters. Its one end leads into the lagoon near Santa Lucia Railway Station while the other end leads to Saint Mark Basin. Along the banks of the Grand Canal stood 170 and more buildings which represent the deepest artistic welfare of Venice. The palazzos in the lagoon such as Palazzi Barbaro, Palazzo Daro, Palazzo Barbarigo, Ca’ Rezzonico, Ca’ d’Oro, Ca’ Foscari symbolizes the how rich the whole place is.

What to do in Grand Canal?

• Grand Canal Boat Tour - Experience the magnificence and romance in Venice by touring the entire street of the canal for one whole hour. Price rates are determined by each person. This covers the fee of the local expert guide, for Prosecco Wine, the luxurious motor-launch and headphone.

• Skipping the Line between Saint Mark’s Basilica and Gondola – Take your time gliding through a labyrinth of small canals while touring and skipping the line tickets to Saint Mark’s Bassilica.

• Private Gondola Ride – Spend your time enjoying the sunset and a gondola ride during late evenings. Begin the journey from Bacino Orseolo through the small enchanting Venetian & Grand Canals towards the famous Rio S. Luca and back. This Gondola Ride is a great way to celebrate your wedding, engagement, birthday and anniversary.

• Gondola Serenade Private Day & Night Tour – Have an excursion in the Lagoon City with the Gondola Ride with music. Enjoy the duration of the ride while the two Venetian singers singing famous Italian songs.

• Romantic Cruising – End your travel itinerary by cruising with your romantic partner through the isolated waterways in floating city while passing under small bridges.

Many people want to believe planning is the best way to find affordable vacation packages for holidays. It takes a lot of your time depending on your budget and where are you going. I am writing this article to tell you the numerous tips and techniques on how you are going to obtain a vacation package of your lifetime.

1. Search the Internet – The Internet has now become the newest hangout in terms of searching the best deals and offers. Apart from the part that the entire process is prompt, there are various websites you can visit. That means, the more websites you can land, the bigger your chances to select the finest offers and discounts.
2. Talk with Travel Agents – If you have nothing to do at home, spend some time browsing your yellow pages and start calling a number of travel agencies in your city. Jot them your prepared questions and listen to what they are offering. Just be extra careful with their sweet negotiations though. These are experts you’re talking to and by having a fruitful discussion with them, I am sure something so good comes up along the wire.
3. Join Promo and Other Ads – Try your luck and fill-up those promotional coupons in shopping malls. These promotional ads won’t do anything bad to you. You’ll surely be safe and sound in their hands. Just make sure when you’ll win, you immediately contact the travel organizers and ask for some affordable add-ons.
4. Talk with your family or with the people online – Does someone in your family travel a lot? If yes then ask them what they did. This is your easiest way to get information that require less thinking and you simply need to follow what he or she is telling you.
5. Read Travel Magazines – Perhaps, you are an avid reader of travel magazines. Take this opportunity to get the vacation package of your lifetime. Leaf those pages one at a time and who knows, you can find a section that tells you to book a ticket for two to your dream destination.

As what other people believe, a waterfall is a symbol of rejuvenated cleansing. It’s hard to ignore its natural free flowing water no matter how big or small it is. Look beyond what you see and you seem to realize a waterfall is nature’s way of saying wash yourself and live the life you want to have.

Located in the Southern part of the Philippines (just two kilometers away from Penaplata), there stood the Hagimit Falls – the Garden City of Samal’s crowning glory due to its relaxing ambiance. The formation of the rocks where the water is flowing (about 6 feet high to 3 feet high) is in its finest. The numerous trees that surround the place are its mighty soldiers keeping the entire area clean and green. Dip your body on the flow of the current and you’ll instantly discover its invisible magic that soothes not only the exterior side of you but for the most part, it also heals the inner part of you.

Hagimit Falls is also an ideal camping site for a small group of friends or a family of five members who want to reboot themselves from all the types of stress by living in the city. Tents can be built on the side, cook some nutritious food, drink some wine while witnessing the real beauty what Mother Nature can bring. The Hagimit Falls certainly offers you the serenity you’ve been searching for in years that even the prominent writers such as John Grisham and JK Rowling might want to stay here to finish their next bestselling novel.

The entrance fee is cheap and affordable. Of all the negative feedback circulated around the Internet, seeing Hagimit Falls is not a disappointment. Getting here is worth all your effort and worth all your money you need to spend.

Based on history of watch making, the first watch was initiated by Peter Henlein who lived in Nuremburg, Germany sometime between the years 1479 to 1542. Watches were considered a clever thing that even inventor were surprised in those days. For the people at that time, the craftsmanship of a watch was simply described as from a piece of iron a timepiece is made with many small wheels that no matter how they were turned can tell time.

Later that time as the people observed, the movement are becoming pr?cised until the watches were certified to be Swiss chronometer. Being chronometer has to do with being precised. Oyster self-winding movement was born when Rolex watches received the precision's highest peak. From this same precision that Rolex replica got its movement.

Watches are defined as portable devices that tell time. It has the strength which can withstand the regular wear and tear of being worn daily even the construction is very small. Some women wear their watches as pendants in their necklaces. Actually, before the 20th century, the popularly used timepieces were the pocket watches.

In the meantime, after the First World War, the wristwatches were introduced and many people accepted it during the 1930's. Wearing the watches on the wrist was the dream of Rolex founder, Hans Wilsdorf. Today, wristwatches are not only commonly used as a timepiece but also as an accessory, and as a fashion statement. With the many models of Rolex watches nowadays, one that stands out is Submariner.

It stands out for its craftsmanship and features.

Oyster Perpetual Submariner is the watch chosen by fashionable professionals. It is perfect for all types of weather and the workmanship is fantastic. The Rolex Submariner replica watches can make people experience professionalism and style. If you are interested to know more about Rolex Submariner, visit any online watch store.

During my second time in Manila, I got the chance to go to Calamba, Laguna and experienced the beauty of one of their lovely hot spring resorts. Together with my sister and best friend, we went to 88 Hotspring Resort. The resort is 2-hours away from Makati. First time guests, like us, won’t have a hard time locating the resort since it just a long the highway.

The moment we got off the bus, we were surprised because there were only few Filipino guests; most of the visitors were Koreans, that’s probably because the resort is owned by a Korean national. Since it was already past 12 in the afternoon and the three of us were hungry, so we headed straight to their restaurant. The downside was that there were only limited Filipino dishes being served. After filling up our hungry stomach, we went for a sight seeing.

We were amazed at how beautiful the place was. The resort had several pools (cold and hot). Cottages were beautifully built and there’s also a lake for boating. The thing I like about their pool is that the water comes directly from the foot of Mount Makiling, so it is natural and un-chlorinated.

88 Hotspring Resort is a perfect place for relaxation and rejuvenation because of its serene ambiance. Though it is along the highway you will barely hear the noise of the buses and jeepneys passing by. Their bathroom was huge and not to mention very clean. For day tour guests, there’s a safety locker where you can put all your things.

So if you are planning to go to Calamba do not forget to check out 88 Hotspring Resort. Be sure to have enough money in your pocket though because it is not too budget-friendly (well, atleast for me). Each serving of their dish will cost you around 300 pesos and the entrance fee is 700 pesos (regular rate) and 500 pesos (discounted rate). Cottages are also available for an overnight stay and price is around 2500 pesos and up. Bus fare from Makati is around 90 pesos.

I don't really mind spending as long as I can have the much needed rest and relaxation!

The enchanting county of Pembrokeshire is known worldwide for its only coastal park in Britain—The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The Pembrokeshire National Park runs a program of activities and events both for kids and adults like: crab catching, rockpool safaris, bat walks and more.

Other reasons why Pembrokeshire Park is worth exploring:

Captivating Location

It is known for its breathtaking location and extraordinary animals and birds. The coastal path that runs from St. Dogmaels in the North to Amroth in South is the longest and the most astounding walk, with a distance of over 180 miles. It is along cliff tops so the view is always stunning.

Beautiful Countryside

Towns and villages are to be found in Pembrokeshire Park filled with historical remains and folklore. This antiquated part of Britain attracts visitors every year.

Geology

Some of the oldest rocks dating back to the Pre-Cambrian period, around 600 million years ago, are to be found around the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Castles and Cathedrals

The tiny historic City of St. Davids is located within Pembrokeshire National Park, which is a shrine for visiting Pilgrims thousand years before. Now, visitors come to St. Davids to explore the magnificent Cathedral and ruined Bishop’s palace. Carew Castle can also be found at the South of Pembrokeshire, with a spanning history of 2000 years.

Visiting Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is a definite unforgettable experience for the whole family. The breathtaking views and historical places will keep you coming back for more.

Harrods is a pride of the United Kingdom. This is a prestigious luxury department store that is specifically located at Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. This is one of the largest shopping center in the world. The store aims to provide everything for all people, everywhere, as stated in their motto: “Omnia Omnibus Ubique”. Indeed, true to their objective, this great store covers more than a million square feet of shopping place and more than 300 departments.

Nowadays, Harrods is a brand name that can also be applied to other enterprises run by the Harrods group of companies such as Harrods Aviation, perfect for any business travel since they provide excellent service; Harrods Banks, a private bank exclusively serving London residents; Harrods Estates, focus on residential properties both for sale and for rent; and many more.

Harrods has already been sold many times to different owners and has also undergone several renovations throughout history. The most recent owner of this place is Mohamed Al Fayed; he had made Harrods a very famous brand and very much appealing to the rest of the world. But recently, Al Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings last May 10, 2010 as he has retired at the age of 77 and has still continued to ensure that this national symbol is kept out of the British ownership.

And the latest news about Harrods is that it is planning to expand to Shanghai to tap the rising number of wealthy Chinese. That means that there venturing to a more global approach to reach more people in the world. Harrods shopping center is definitely a place one should go to when you want to find everything you need!

Hampton Court Palace is a palace situated in the south west of London, England. This palace is located near River Thames and Charing Cross. This place is indeed very historical since this is where the British royal family used to live until the 18th century. This is one of the two palaces owned by Henry VIII that survived up until now (the other one is St. James' Palace).

Hampton Court Palace has already been opened to the public. It is now a tourist destination. This palace is taken cared by Historic Royal Places – an independent charity.

At Hampton Court Palace, there's a place called Hampton Court Park, sometimes called Home Park. This is where Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and Hampton Court Palace Festival is held annually.

Hampton Court Palace Festival is a musical event held every month of June. During this festive event, artists coming from different genres present a concert to the crowd of people to continue the traditional entertainment.

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show started way back in 1990 and was originally organized by the Royal Horticultural Society. This event is held in 25 acres of the Hampton Court Palace Park. Other people much prefer to call this flower show as Chelsea Flower Show because this is one of the largest flower festival in the world.

There is also a tree named Mediaeval Oak, or Methuselah's Oak, in the southern part of the park. This tree is said to be 750 years old and has also become one of the attractions in the palace.

No wonder why this palace is a place like no other. It has already become one of the most famous
palace in the world. And it surely is a great privilege to have visited Hampton Court Palace!

Alton Towers Theme Park is one of the most visited park in United Kingdom. This theme park is

located in Staffordshire, England. It has many new attractions this year. Some of them are: Th13teen, Submission, Ripsaw and Rita.

Th13teen – This is the most challenging ride in the park. You must have enough guts to ride it, else it will trouble your imagination once you're inside the Dark Forest.

Submission – This ride is ultimately thrilling since it will leave you hanging vertically. You should hold on very tight when experiencing this ride.

Ripsaw – This feels like you're inside a washing machine because it will intensely keep spinning for several times. Be prepared to get wet when you're gonna ride this because most likely you'll get wet when it turns upside down.

Rita – This ride is certainly extraordinary. It moves so fast – more or less 100kmph in 2.5 seconds. So be ready to get carried away!

The thrill rides mentioned above are just a few of the many rides Alton Towers Theme Park has to offer. There are still lots of highly exhilarating, fantastic and super cool rides that can be experienced at the park such as:

Oblivion, as the name implies, this ride sort of make you forget anything else but the exciting feeling when you're up at a very high altitude. Even if you never want to look at the ground, you surely just couldn't help take a peek since it suddenly drops vertically.

Enterprise is an incredible ride; it will keep spinning and flipping you over and over again. Indeed, it'll be thrilling and enjoyable at the same time.

Air will let you experience how it is to be weightless up on air; sort of feels like you're flying up there. It will certainly feel great!

So, if you want to have the most fun and exciting time of your life, visit Alton Towers Theme Park and go get in the rides!

Rio de Janiero (River of January in English) is the second largest city of Brazil. Among the cities in Brazil, Rio gets the most number of tourist visits every year because of its abundance in wonderful tourist attractions and one of those tourist attractions is the "Christ The Redeemer". The statue is considered to be the largest Art Deco statue in the world. Below are the 10 facts you should know about the magnificent statue.

• Build between 1922 and 1931, the Christ the Redeemer has become the symbol of Christianity in Rio and Brazil. The budget for construction clocked at $250,000.

• Christ the Redeemer also symbolizes freedom, blessing and protection.

• The idea was suggested by Princess Isabel but the idea was dismissed in 1889. Years passed by and the Catholic Circle of Rio organized another proposal in 1921. Among the designs, the statue with open arms on a pedestal was chosen.

• The outer layers of the monument were built from high-quality soapstone.
  

• It is located at the Peak of Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca Forest National Park and is referred to as the World’s Largest Art Deco-- standing at 130 feet and weighs 635 tons.

• Heitor da Silva Costa was the local engineer of the monument and it was originally sculptured by Paul Landowski.

• Christ the Redeemer was inaugurated in October 12, 1931 and welcomed numerous tourists around the world.

• Christ the Redeemer has officially joined the list of New Seven Wold’s Wonders in July 7, 2007 along with Giza Pyramid Complex in Cairo, Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, Colosseum in Rome Italy, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu in Cuzco, Peru, Petra in Jordan and Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

• On February 10, 2008, the monument suffered a damage caused by thunders and lightning. Restoration effort was immediately put into place, especially in the statue’s head and arms.

• Getting to Christ the Redeemer is easy. Once you’re in Rio de Janeiro, simply go to Cosme Velho District, specifically the Rua Cosme Velho 513. This is the place where you are going to buy tickets for train. This train takes you through the Atlantic Rainforest up to the statue’s foot.

What is Maxima Beach Resort?

Located at Samal Islands, the Maxima is a two-storey beach house designed with four rooms and is also furnished with three king-size beds and four single beds. The house has also toilets and three functioning showers.

Staying inside the house is a breeze due to its operational kitchen equipped with cooking facilities, refrigerator and other indoor living tools. Apart from outings, the house also welcomes corporate meetings and other private parties.

All and that will cost Php 12,500 good and only limited to ten people.

Fun Activities

The Maxima Beach Resort is a place for endless water activities. Here, you can swim, kayak, fish, dive, explore, hunt and sunbath.

The Hagimit Falls is a few steps away from the House and if you like, you can pay a visit in there and take a plunge into the water like a pro.

Facilities

Other facilities in the place include:

• River Walk Grill
• Butterfly House
• Wild Water Rafting
• River Front
  

Rates

• For ten people, the overnight accommodation costs Php 10,500 if it’s weekdays and Php 12,500 if it’s weekends. Pax of more than ten will be billed Php 300 per head.

• Meals are offered. The three set of meals with snacks costs Php 900 per day.

• Boat transportation from Peñaplata pier to Maxima Vice-Versa/Pick up cost Php 3,000

• Maryknoll Jetty to Maxima, Island Hopping Tour cost Php 7,000 (Pumpboat ride)

• Van transfer (Airport to Maxima Vice-Versa) costs Php 5,000

Bluejaz Resort and Waterpark is now considered a premier location for fun and adventure situated in the southern Philippine Islands. Anyone can visit this resort either by car or ferry or take a ride on a passenger ferry just a short distance away from Davao International Airport.

Endless Fun under the Sun

Bluejaz is proud of its various waterparks.

For adults, there are Big Pool at the Gigantic Waterslides and Bluejaz Infinity pool overlooking Davao Gulf. Young at hearts will enjoy the Children's swimming/paddling pool, Children's pool with waterfall and Toddlers Pool at the Childrens Waterslides

The Beach- water ski-ing, kayaking, wakeboarding and diving

Variety of Rooms & Suites

• Fiji Style Cottages (Php 3,500per night) - There are a total of four rooms in each cottage and that’s good for two to five persons.
• Jazmin Rooms (Php 2,500 per night) - Ten rooms are available for a maximum of two to four persons only.
• Backpackers Paradise Bunk Room (Php 550 per head) – Enjoy its co-ed dormlike European style bunk room. Furnished with common bathroom, shower facilities and double deck beds, the vacation is a breeze.
• Tropical Rooms (Php 1900 per night) – Enough for six persons and it comes with a queen size bed.
• The White House (Php 12,000 for the entire space) - It can house eight to twenty persons and an excess of Php 300 is asked for additional night of stay.
  

Special Packages

Day Tour Escapade is also available for Php 90 per head. Inclusive in this offer are entrance fee, open cottage, use of swimming pools and waterslides and boat transfer. Day Tour hours is only allowed from six in the morning to five in the afternoon.

Bluejaz also offers overnight services. For Php 250 per head, you can enjoy the boat transfer, the open cottage and the free-of-charge use of pools and slides.

Other Recreations

• Blue Bling Bar and Restaurant- Opens from six the morning until eleven in the evening, taste their international and oriental cuisines.
• The Bluejaz Pavilion – Their version of a meeting hall equipped with tables and chairs, mini sound system and white board. A stay of five hours will be billed Php 3,500 and is limited to fifty to one hundred guests.
  

Booking and Reservations

For any booking transactions, you can email Bluejaz Help Desk at info@bluejaz.net or fill out an inquiry form that can be found at this page https://www.bluejaz.net/Contact_us.html.

Pearl Farm Beach Resort is a fourteen-hectare spread and was recognize as only a pearl farm. The resort is blessed with thousands of white-lipped oysters and cultivated pink, white and gold pearls. Today, Pearl farm Beach Resort promises a soothing and private retreat. Anything is you need is supervised by its congenial and charming staffs.

Accommodation

Deluxe Accommodation is available. The beach resort has seventy-three guestrooms as well as suites and cottages on elevated above the sea. Exclusive villas are inspired from the influences of Maranao and Samal ethnics, materials and form.

• Hilltop Room
• Samal House
• Mandaya House
• Samal Suite
  

Few hundred meters away from Samal Island is the seven exclusive villas. These villas offer you a golf playing field with three holes. At the remaining hours of the day, you can chill while walking on the unspoiled white sand beach.

Facilities

• Play like Roger Federer in their tennis courts.
• The resort also offers a wide array of water sports such as:
• Wind Surfing
• Water Polo
• Jet Skiing
• Water Skiing
• Banana Boat Rides
• Scuba Diving
• Sea Kayaks
• Hobie Cats
• Wave Runners
• Ylang Ylang Spa
• Three function rooms and boardrooms for power meetings and conferences
• The Gameroom offers you fun-filled and leisure activities.
  

Reservations and Packages

Reservations are done online. You can also avail of their various packages to make sure you experience the zest of your vacation escapade.

• Dream Holidays Package
• Family Package
• Bed and Breakfast Package
• Dream Honeymoon Package
  

Rates (in US Dollars) do vary and it might change without formal notice. If you like to know other important details about those deals or to make a direct negotiation, contact their 24-hour Help Desk at (632) 910-4203 up to 05.

This is the longest I've gone without posting on my poor neglected Cool Travel Guide. You want to know why? Drop by Grantourismo and you'll see that we've been a tad busy on our yearlong grand tour of the world, which we embarked on in February in partnership with HomeAway Holiday-Rentals. So far our trip has taken us from Melbourne via Dubai to London, Marrakech, Essaouira, Madrid, Jerez, Barcelona (pictured), Ceret, Perpignan, Paris, and now we're in Kotor in Montenegro. We're busy, but we're meeting some amazing people, having some extraordinary experiences, and we're generating some top quality content of which we're really proud: go take a look! I won't be neglecting Cool Travel Guide for much longer though... I have plans to re-launch the blog very soon, which I'll share with you shortly. In the meantime, do come and visit us at Grantourismo - even if it's just to drop by and say hello!

Villa de Mercedes is a first class subdivision located in Catigan, Toril. The subdivision is ideal if you want to settle in a secluded place and away from the city. It was developed by Uraya Lands and with the price of 6, 500Php per square meter; it’s definitely not for everyone. The beautifully constructed guard house can instantly give you a hint that rich people are living inside the subdivision. Another thing you should know about the place is that it is not accessible if you don’t own a car because it is almost a 2 kilometers travel from the highway.

So what’s up with this place that I even bother to write a something about it? Well, a first class subdivision can’t be considered first class if it does not have a first class club house, right? Villa de Mercedes takes pride of its very magnificent club house. I have been to several club houses but none can compare to the astonishing club house of the subdivision. I have to say that the pool is best viewed during night time because of the light that illuminates under the water. What makes the club house the best is that you get see an over looking view of Davao City.

The pool is child friendly because there’s a part of the pool that is intended for kids. The pool is only 4 feet deep so it is also friendly to those does not know how to swim. You have to be in your proper swimming outfit before you can enjoy the pool. Other top notch features of the club house are its huge bathroom and lockers. Your valuable things are one hundred percent safe because you are provided a locker and you can have your own number combination to lock the cabinet.

The entrance is quite pricey at 150Php but it’s all worth it. I will definitely go back there and spend more time in the water.

The name of Breitling is associated with the time known perfection, high standard and classical designs. The company started its business by providing services to air craft industry only from where the tradition of high emphasis on quality and precision is carried on to the present time.

With the replica watch market expanding in both its scope and scale, Breitling fake watches have become a part of it long ago. Perhaps the brand was one of the few brands of which maximum possible number of models was replicated because of their increasing demand. Since then the quality of these replica watches has increased as a function of quantity demanded.

Breitling fake watches offer an enormous variety to the buyer in terms of the shape and color of the dial, material being used range from stainless steel to titanium; bands may be made up of synthetic materials like plastic or may be composed of metal. A very large range of models is available which belong to almost all common series. Some prominent series, which are available in their replica forms, are Navitimer, Chronomat Evolution, Aeromarine and Breitling for Bentley.

The Navitimer models have stainless less steel constructions, Quartz mechanism movements and plastic as well as metal bands.

The classic Breitling for Bentley has some models with rectangular dials, unlike that of most of Navitimer models which all have round dials. There is a great variation in colors of dial. The bands are made up of same kind of materials, i-e, plastic or metal.

All the watches are made with great care and perfection to make them look as well as work closest to the genuine timepieces. The markings and engravings are ruled out with keen attention to all the minutest details to give the customer maximum satisfaction with the Breitling fake watches.

The second time is a charm.

We've been to Solair nudist resort once before several years ago and were in the Boston area again.  We had to make a return.  The nude recreation destination is a great day trip from Boston if you want a day of family-friendly fun in the sun.

Solair Recreation League is located in Woodstock, Connecticut in the north east corner of CT, minutes from the Massachusetts border. It is about an hour and half from Boston, MA. If you ever happen to visit Boston (which is a good time in itself), Solair is an easy nakation day trip with a rental car.

We returned to spend the day at Solair late last summer. Having been there once before, we knew what to expect but explored to see some new things we missed on the first visit.

We just paid the day fees at the entrance and were on our way. Solair offers discounted day fees for those under 40. It seems to be a good incentive. We saw a good mix of ages and people under 40.

It was a nice day. Everyone we interacted with were very friendly.  Just like our first visit, the grounds were in great condition.   There's a lot to like about Solair.  Here's my favorite things. 

What I like about Solair Recreation League nudist resort:

• This nudist resort is member owned.  The members take care of it and are very friendly to guests.  In fact, a lot of friendly regulars who have summer homes on the grounds and know the region well and can recommend restaurants and such.
• You feel "away from it all" here on the large wooded grounds.
• Nice pool, sometimes has water volleyball games on busy summer weekends (it did during our first visit)
• Indoor hot tub and sauna
• Lake with paddle boats but no alligators like in Florida. Go skinnydipping or take a paddle boat out.
• Small recreation room with pool table and ping pong - if you get a cool day, there's at least something to do in the nude indoors.
• Lots of nude hiking and walking on both the paved roads in the residential area and wooded trails (I'm not sure that there are maps for the wooded trails.  You may have to ask a member.)  We took a walk all around the residential area and then onto a short trail that goes up a hill and overlooks the lake.
• If you bring a bike, you could ride your bike on the paved roads on the grounds.
• Tennis courts - not sure if you have to bring your own rackets and balls.
• Some food served in cafe on the weekends

What not to expect:

• It's not a place big on nightlife.
  
• It's more of a "very nice campground" than a "resort".
• Food options are limited...so packing a picnic lunch might be a good idea.
• Don't expect you can be disrespectful to others.  The members care about this place a lot and they want visitors to do the same.

Having now been to many more nudist resorts over the years, I have to say that Solair is an excellent facility given that it is a northern US nudist resort that has a short season.

If you are going for a first time visit, read Solair's website or maybe call first. It seems they want first timers to only visit on weekends, at least that is my understanding. I think this is because they need to have someone on hand to give a tour.

At least as of my last visit in late 2009, Solair had a policy that during the first 4 visits, they want visitors to spend time talking with a member who does an interview as part of a membership screening/recruitment process. I had previously thought that this would be a pain in the butt (I have mixed feelings about these types of red tape procedures that detract from nakationing). But we did talk to a member this visit. It wasn't a big deal at all. It was a casual 10 minute chat. The nudist member who interviewed us was friendly and asked us our experience, told us a little bit about the place, and asked if we had any questions.

If you're in the area, give Solair Recreation League a try.

Hunter Valley is definitely one of the must see island when you visit Australia. The warm and sunny climate of the city awaits you. But of course, there's more than just the clear skies, Hunter Valley offers many attractions for you.

There are many places that you can go to in the city. Whether you are a wine lover, an enthusiast of natural beauty and wildlife, Hunters has it all. Barington Tops is one of the most popular areas with if you are a nature lover. Here you can see a large of unspoiled cities of rare wildlife.

List of Activities You Can do In Hunter Valley:

• Wine Tasting There are over 120 cellar doors that will accommodate you daily.
• Food and Wine. You can see wide selection of world class restaurants.
• Golf. Enjoy the three championship courses.
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Arts and Galleries If you are into history, you can visit different arts and galleries in Hunt Valley
• Concerts – Witness the world class acts performing in the vineyards.
  

For those who prefer the conventional sightseeing routine, there are spectacular building that can be found in the Hunter. You can visit several galleries and museum displaying various antiques and crafts such as glassware, jewelry, paintings and sculptures.

One of the sights in Hunter Valley that is sure to get the attention of all visitors is the Hunter Village Garden located in the heart of the Hunter vineyard at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges. You will be amazed by the colors and fragrances of the twelve stunning feature gardens.

If you are tired of touring, then you can get outside from something new to do. Feel the glorious sunrise from a hot air balloon, or horse back riding in the vineyard. For a more relaxing adventure, you can head to the beach. Hunter Valley is near the sea, expect that you can find some resorts.

Accommodation is not a problem in Hunter Valley. Whatever your choices in Hunter Valley accommodation, whether it is a simple farm to stay or a luxurious hotel, you can easily find a place to suit your taste and your budget.

Fraser Island is another impressive travel destination in Australia. This island is situated along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia and around three to four hours away from Brisbane. It is 123 kilometers long and at its widest point it’s width around 22 kilometers.

It was year 1992 when the World Heritage discovered the island. After the discovery, the place is considered as one of the world's largest island and the only place with rainforest that grows in the sand. This makes Fraser Island as one of the most rare and mysterious place on Queensland's coastline. In this area, you can see long undisturbed sandy beach flanked by strikingly colored sand cliffs. It is also a home of 100s freshwater both tea colored and clear blue lakes. Hence, Fraser Island is not just an ordinary island. It's an island wherein the Australian's rich natural heritage combine together.

Fishing

During the day, there is plenty to do in Fraser Island. There are endless beaches for swimming, playing Frisbee or beach soccer. Some of the visitors come to Fraser for fishing. In fact, an annual fishing competition is being held in here that last for a whole week.

Day Tours at Fraser Island

You can explore the beauty of Fraser Island from a bird eye view using the MI Helicopters for a day tour. In this way, you can observe Fraser's untamed wilderness, sub-tropical rainforests and crystal clear freshwater lakes. It is perfect for a couple who wants a secluded and romantic getaway.

However, it is better if you explore the scenic highlights of Frazer Island by land. You can visit different pounded beaches, rainforest and freshwater lakes. You can also witness the brilliant spring wild flowers and forest clad dunes and other wildlife settling in the island.

What's more, you can select your accommodation here depending on your budget. There are available luxury hotels and resort for rents, even a simple camp site. If you want a feeling like at home you can set up a tent and a campfire on the beach. Just ask anything you wish, Fraser is a great provider.

Life has been keeping us busy as usual with our Gran- tourismo project now well and truly under way; you can keep up with our travels and what we're doing here. We've had a few bits and pieces published in print and online in January and February, which we wrote last year, that I wanted to share with you. 

* The first edition Cyprus TwinPack guidebook I wrote for the UK's AA Publishing was released in January. I really like AA's revamp of the TwinPack series - the book's design is much more clean and stylish-looking now. 

* In the January issue of Gulf Life, Gulf Air's in-flight magazine, Terry and I had a piece on the sleek one-of-a-kind sheesha pipes that the manager of Doha W's Wahm Bar commissioned in Designer Sheesha in Doha: blowing bubbles has never been so cool, while in the February issue we've got a piece on Wild Peeta, a fantastic fusion shawarma eatery started by two Emirati guys. 

* The February issue of J Mag, Jazeera Airways in-flight magazine includes more of our stories and pics, including Twitterabia, about the rise in popularity of Twitter in the region and how tweeps in the Middle East are meeting face to face and forming 'real' friendships; Future Planning, about three young Kuwaiti architects hoping to make Kuwait a better place to live through their re-thinking of what's appropriate architecture for the country and their blog Re:Kuwait, aimed at opening a public dialogue on the subject; and Guitar Heroes, a piece about the heavy metal scene in Kuwait, though we're not happy with this last story at all, censored for political/religious reasons. We were asked to remove references to the 'devil's music' and the real challenges the musicians are facing - and we never called the guys geeky! If you're interested in the full story and would like to see the original piece, leave a comment below and I'll email it to you.

* The Jan/Feb/Mar edition of Carlson Wagonlit's Asian-based business travel magazine, Connect, features a '24 Hours in Dubai' piece I wrote.

* The January edition of UK travel magazine Wanderlust contained a special Jordan supplement with a couple of pieces I wrote on Jordanian guides, including a profile of an award-winning guide and recommendations and advice by some of Jordan's best guides. 

* In the Ritz-Carlton magazine's Winter 2010 edition, you'll also find a small piece I wrote for the Doha hotel's concierge.

* We also had a couple of pieces on the Viator blog, including UAE: a Winter Wonderland, and a piece introducing our Grantourismo project (Viator is one of our project partners).

Pictured: a wall of graffiti in Kuwait City, against which Terry shot fantastic portraits of Kuwait's heavy metal heroes for our Jazeera magazine story.

Bungle Bungle is also known as Purnululu National Park. It is one of the popular travel spots for foreigners and it was situated in Western Australia.

If you are interested to know what Purnululu means is, it's a Kiji term for sandstone. On the other hand, the origin name of “Bungle Bungle” is still unknown. This area is almost 5788 meters high from sea level. This park is popular because of its sandstone domes, that were formed 350 million years ago. You can see the domes on the edge of the range. You need to fly over the whole range to see a new area of domes in the making when an erosion happens in the center of the massif. At first look, you can easily say domes come in orange and grey combination. The banding of the domes happens because of the differences in clay content and presence of porosity on the sandstone layers.

Bungle Bungle National Park is also of great significance of both cultural and spiritual to local settlers. It was year 1983 when a film tram discovered the area, yet there are already people lived there for how many years. The government established Bungle Bungle as Purnululu National Park in 1987 to preserve the importance of the area as well as its significance to the traditional settlers.

For a stunning and beautiful experience on Bungle Bungles, it is highly suggested to visit this place during dry season. It is an amazing experience also if you walk throughout the beautiful landscape with its sandstone domes. The plains come in lush and green for they are thickly covered of bright yellow Acacia flowers.

Most of the activities in Bungle Bungle is walking. But that's part of it. You can't find the famous domes here if you don't walk. It's a good thing most of the walk is very open and sunny. And in your way, you can find jaw-dropping scenery such as domes and cliffs, chasms and rock pools. Take advantage too for sunset look out. There are two sunset lookout in Bungle Bungles. One is The Walinginjdji Sunsent Lookout which is close to the Visitor Center and Piccaninny Creek, it takes half an hour to get there.

Take your time to explore this spot, so you will enjoy the beauty of Purnululu and get the most out of it. You will never be satisfied with your one day stay in Bungle Bungles, but that's enough time in absorbing the atmosphere.

Tasmanian Wilderness is a spectacular place to visit in Australia. It is one of the largest temperate wilderness areas remaining in the Southern Hemisphere. It was enrolled on the World Heritage List last 1982 and in 1989. Started May 2007, Tasmanian Wilderness becomes one of the destinations for foreigners.

The area of Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage covers approximately 1.38 million hectares and contains almost twenty percent of the area of Tasmania. In this island, you can see the deepest and longest caves in Australia. And since this is Australia, you are going to expect a wide variety of flora and some of the longest lived trees and tallest flowering plants in the world only found in this area.

The Tasmanian Wilderness is made up of different parks and other reserves:

• Cradle Mountain
• Lake St Clair
• Southwest National Park
• Wild Rivers National Park
• Hartz Mountains
• Mole Creek Karst National Park (part)
• Walls of Jerusalem National Park
• Central Plateau Conservation Area
• Devils Gullet State Reserve
• Liffey Falls State Reserve (part)
  

If you are planning to visit one or all of them, guides of Tasmanian Wilderness are willing to tour you around. In Lake St Clair you can witness a nice landscape encompassing indented mountain peaks, icy streams, ancient rainforest, and glacial lakes. During winter, snow covered the area of Hartz Mountains. But you will amaze with the waterfalls that surround the park and with beautiful and abundant wildlife once the snow melts in late spring.

Activities in Tasmanian Wilderness

The Tasmanian Wilderness offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities ranging from extended walks through to half hour strolls.

Bushwalking

There are over 1,000 kilometers bushwalking tracks and routes in the Tasmanian Wilderness and the numbers are increasing every year. Some of the famous tracks are the Overland, Frenchmans Cap and the South Coast. With plenty f interesting sights and activities to do along the way, this will definitely be an exciting trip.

Camping

Campsites scattered around the Tasmanian Wilderness for affordable overnight fees.
Angling

After the tiring walking and camping, the next exciting activity would be angling. The popular fishing areas in Tasmanian include Lake Pedder, Lake St Clair and the Gordon River.

Rafting and Kayaking

You will enjoy seeing spectacular scenery in Tasmanian for 12 days wilderness rafting.

Are you a lobster and seafood lover? Boothbay Harbor Maine is a perfect destination for you. Lobster restaurants sprout like a mushroom anywhere in Maine as well as the fishing charters that sell lobsters. In fact, many visitors find the best lobster restaurants only in Maine.

Aside for being a popular destination for lobster and seafood restaurants throughout the world, Bootbay Harbor is also known as “The Boating Capital of New England.” Hence, going on a scenic boat tour is the first thing in your to do list during your stay in Boothday Harbor Inn. There are 25 boat trips daily that tour the nearby islands.

The highly recommended place to visit near Boothbay Harbor is the Damariscotta Lake State Park - a good place to go swimming. The place isn't overcrowded during weekdays. In the nearby island is a home of a very nice beach called Pemaquid with warm water compared to other beach in Maine. The calm and lovely views of this beach resort are perfect for you and your kids.

Here you will discover the historic side of Boothbay Harbor that full of museums. Tourist can enjoy educational and historical part of the town. A one-day tour on Antique Railway Village is enough to discover the history behind this place. Part of the village are old automobiles, a museum, tractor pulls, model and full size train. Another museum you must see is located in downtown the Boothbay Region Historical Society. It is just a small yet informative museum. Seeing their large collection and photographs, you can imagine the look of the town before it became a large tourist destination.

You can also enjoy visiting Burnt Island Lighthouse. It is a five-acre island operated by Maine Department of Marine Resources. From the port of BoothBay Harbor, this lighthouse is just a one mile away. After the successful attempt of restoring this lighthouse it is now an educational spot in Maine.

Lastly, don't forget to visit the Maine State Aquarium. So what is it about this aquarium that seems to be enchanting all? For one thing, it's all the lobsters. Your kids will be amazed with different sizes and colors of lobsters and wide variety of sea creatures they will find here. The Aquarium was built in 1993, and it looks like the actual rocky coast of Maine.

Terry and I have been dreaming about doing a grand tour of sorts for a few years - since way back when we wrote the Grantourismo blog for Charles and Marie. We started to seriously develop the idea of a reincarnation of Grantourismo about a year ago, but we hadn't yet begun to think about how to fund it. Our original plan was to stay in one destination for a month at a time, and to really try to get beneath the skin of the place, to get to know the locals, learn as much of the language as we could, to learn some things unique or special to the place, and to write a book about the project. We were over the moon when we discovered that HomeAway Holiday Rentals had a similar marketing exercise in mind, their idea being to send a couple of travel writers around the world to explore a more enriching and authentic way of travel that was possible through holiday home stays, rather than hotels. It was a godsend that they believed our project would fit, and we were happy to compromise a little (two destinations a month instead of one) to be able to make it work together. I'll tell you a little bit more about Grantourismo in coming posts.

Finishing writing projects (books, stories, reviews) and planning our exciting new project called Grantourismo, a contemporary grand tour of sorts, has kept us busy throughout December and January, and once again prevented me from updating this poor neglected little blog. Early this week we left Australia, where we went to spend Christmas and New Year with family and work at my uncle and aunt's beautiful house in Bendigo, for the UAE, our home since 1998, and the base for the intensive globetrotting we've been doing these last 12 years. Today we kick off Grantourismo with a little pre-launch party at a swish villa on The Palm in Dubai, on Monday we fly to London for the official launch of the project, and a week later we head to Marrakech to properly start the project. So what is this project then, you ask? Well, essentially, we're trading hotel rooms for holiday homes for a year (phew!) and partnering with HomeAway Holiday Rentals, who are sending us around the world to stay in their properties and write about the homes, the destinations, and the experiences they enable us to have. The aim is to inspire people to choose holiday homes over hotels when they're planning a trip, because we believe homes enable people to travel in a more enriching and authentic way. You can read more about the project on our pretty Grantourismo blog (which Terry designed) and here on the HomeAway site. And I'll tell you more about how the project came about and what it involves in another post. Because I have a party to prepare for now...

Haiti as we already know by now needs the whole world’s support due to the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the island earlier this week. With this tragic event that killed an estimated 50,000 people, I can only hope and pray that Haitians can still find a way to continue living.

Haiti is Creole and French speaking Caribbean country. Being a Caribbean country it is blessed with one of a kind beaches. The island attracts thousands of tourists every year from around the globe. Natural wonders, parks, lakes, monument and historic sites are among the best tourist attractions of the island.

Beautiful islands are common in Haiti but Labadie Island is probably the most popular tourist spot in the country. The island is famous for its breathtaking view any time of the day. A cruise can help you check out the totality of the Labadie Island. You can check out the nearby Bay of Acul and Amiga Island. These two tourist spots are equally attractive and offer travelers luxuriant green landscapes.

If you’re a traveler who likes to know more of the country’s history then Citadelle is the right place to visit. Musee de Guahaba is a specialty museum that houses the country’s abundant arts and artifacts.

Barbancourt Rum Distillery is also a major tourist attraction in Haiti. One of the best tasting rums is being made here.

Petionville is the perfect place for vacationers who like to shop. The place is located in the country’s capital which is the Port au Prince. Various restaurants and shops are found in Petionville. You can also get a closer look of the country’s rich cultural heritage in this place.

Aside from the major tourist attractions that I have mentioned, there are also a number of places in Haiti that are worth your time and they are Lake Saumatre and Chaine de la Selle Peak. Lake Saumatre is famous for flamingos, water buffaloes, and crocodiles while the Chaine de la Selle Peak is the highest point of Haiti.

Despite being the poorest country in the western hemisphere there’s no doubt that Haiti has a lot to offer to its growing number of tourists across the globe.

Let us all hope and pray for Haiti’s fast recovery and restore those natural wonders that makes them one of the best tourist destinations in the world.

I'm a fan of Twitter but I was on deadline and only half-following tweets a few nights ago as messages streamed in from people in the UAE at the inauguration of the world's tallest building Burj Dubai, since renamed Burj Khalifa. A few made me giggle, like that of @OmaReina who re-tweeted @trebbye:"#BurjDubai is now Burj Abu Dhabi...I mean #BurjKhalifa, as stated by his highness", a reference to more affluent neighbouring emirate Abu Dhabi's financial bailout of its debt-ridden cousin Dubai. (For further explanation, see this piece by Dubai's Financial Times writer Simeon Kerr). While there were the usual expressions of cynicism from Dubai's many critics (some very witty), I was drawn more to tweets by Emirati and expat tweeps for their raw emotion and passionate expressions of elation and pride. As the messages streamed in at a rapid pace by tweeps determined to see the symbolic structure become a trending topic on Twitter, I have to admit I got a tad emotional and wished I was there with friends. 

You see, although I'm Australian I moved with husband Terry to the UAE in 1998 to work, and while we're permanently on the road now, the country is still our base. I've lived there a quarter of my life and feel more home there than in Australia where I have to admit I feel, well, um... foreign. So when twitter pal and Matador editor Julie Schwietert (@collazoprojects) tweeted: “You know what I don’t care about? The Burj, that’s what.” I felt compelled to respond. Not criticize. Just explain that "The people who care about the Burj are the people who live there & love the place, and for whom it's symbolic of so much..." (and, cause I needed more characters) "...which is why I care about it; I think we must feel the way Aussies felt when the Opera House or Harbour Bridge opened."

Because that's what I'd been thinking as I half-watched the tweeps coming in that evening. As I read tweets about workers injured during the construction of Burj Dubai, I recalled reading many years earlier in a popular culture class at uni about the many men who had died, were injured or went deaf while working on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an initiative that created a phenomenal debt that wasn't paid off until the 1980s. I also remembered old black and white photos I'd seen of the opening ceremony, presided over by the state premier, with a 21-gun salute, Air Force fly-past, marching bands and decorated floats, all considered very extravagant during times of depression. 

Sydney's bridge is now a major tourist attraction, the Bridge Climb considered a must-do activity for visitors, and a place of celebration, with Sydneysiders streaming over it for its anniversaries and other significant events. The bridge is the centrepiece for every New Year's Eve fireworks, when the country anxiously waits to see (after weeks of speculation) what illuminated symbol will appear on the structure following the dazzling display - it was a disco ball one year, a dove of peace another. 

But, more than anything, like the Sydney Opera House and other great iconic monuments, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a source of immense national pride. Its completion not only united the city when it connected Sydney's northern and southern shores in 1932, but it also united a nation during very challenging times. I suspect Burj Khalifa has done the same.


P.S.my tweets motivated this lovely post from Julie on Matador: How Twitter Helped Me Care About the Burj

The posts I will be popping up on my poor neglected travel blog over the next few days have been a long time coming. Some I drafted back in Beirut in November, others I scribbled almost a month ago while I was recovering from bronchial pneumonia from a hotel room in Bangkok where we were working on a guidebook. That diagnosis, by the way, based on nasty symptoms like coughing up blood, came from my doctor uncle in Australia by email because I was too busy working to get to a GP. It would be an understatement to say that 2009 has been a hectic year of travel and writing for Terry and I - something I only recently appreciated glancing at all the books we've written which have been published this year sitting on the shelf beside my desk here at my family's house in Bendigo, Australia: Footprint Italian Lakes, Thomas Cook Northern Italy, and Thomas Cook Travellers Calabria, plus a handful of books I updated for AA and Thomas Cook. Then there are others we've written that I haven't even seen (like the Rough Guides Clean Breaks, which I contributed to) or are not yet published, like the new edition to the Rough Guide to Australia (for which we updated four and a bit states - half the country! - on a four month-long road trip from October 2008 to February 2009), and another first edition, Back Roads Australia for DK. I skim down this page scanning my posts, and while there have been few compared to last year or the year before, when I stop at In Print and Online and then take a look at that archive I see why. We may continually read the claims that print is dead yet we've spent more time writing for magazines this year than any other, and up until we returned to guidebooks in December we'd spent six months solid doing little else but write for magazines. The irony is that we've now been hired by HomeAway Holiday-Rentals for a year to travel the world, stay in their properties, and blog about the experience - something I never could have predicted. So the travel blogging that for me had been an escape from my 'day job' as a travel writer now becomes our main source of income. Print is still not dead, however - as much as our new client appreciates social media, they are still going to pay us bonuses for every article we get published in a magazine or newspaper. So I'm expecting it's going to be another busy year, but I'm pleased to say that we'll be slowing down considerably. No longer will I be envying a donkey his pace. More on our new project, Grantourismo soon.

Pictured? Fortune tellers in Bangkok.