Belize- for an Adventure Filled Vacation

If you are looking for an adventure, unlike anything you have experienced before, Belize is just the right place for your vacation. Discover a network of fast flowing rivers and cascading waterfalls, spectacular limestone caves, lush rainforests, world class fishing, diving, and snorkeling, mysterious Maya Ruins, and miles of beautiful white sand beaches. There is so much that makes Belize a paradise for travel lovers.

The following are just a few examples and possibilities for an adventurous vacation in Belize.

ATM Tour (Actun Tunichil Muknal)

Would you like to explore an ancient cave untouched for 1000 years? This popular site, popular among vacationers is as close as you will come. Near the Cayo District an ancient cave once used for Mayan ceremonies was discovered and left untouched, with human remains, and over 200 artifacts. Getting to the cave is just as exciting as you travel on foot for a 45 minute trek through the pristine jungle.. You will experience the natural beauty of Belize first hand with its abundance of exotic wildlife. ATM is a must for your Belize vacation.

World famous Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef is a precious natural wonder and the second longest reef in the world. Home to one of the most important ecosystems in the world, the reef has 70 coral species and 500 species of fish. It is a natural wonder, yet at your doorstep while visiting one of the many fabulous Belize vacation destinations. The reef provides excellent world class diving, snorkeling, and fishing opportunities. No Belize vacation is complete without visiting the Barrier Reef.

Tales of Mayan Legacy

One of the most important parts of Belize’s history is the Mayan legacy of outstanding palaces and temples. These historical monuments stand proudly and attract vacationers in huge numbers.

The magnificent ruins of the ancient civilization are delight for everyone, not only history enthusiasts. While on your Belize vacation don’t forget to visit the famous archaeological sites like Caracol, Cerros, Lamanai, Actun Tunichil Muknal, Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, El Pilar, Nim Li Punit and Xunantunich.

Southern Belize with Unlimited Options

A favorite vacation destination, this beautiful, pristine area of Belize in the Toledo District embraces the sea, and possesses a lush jungle with many rivers and Mayan villages. Hike any of a number of trails leading to waterfalls and ancient caves.

And when it comes to fishing, there are unlimited options to round off your vacation. Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Punta Ycacos Lagoon, Monkey River, and Punta Negra Lake all offer first class fishing experiences. This is a good choice for a Belize vacation.

Sun Kissed Belize Beaches

The beautiful tropical beaches nestled by the Caribbean Sea are the best in the world. A relaxing vacation under the warm Belize sun with plenty of relaxing on any of the beautiful beaches is all you need to charge your batteries..

Choose from any of the island destinations, such as Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, or on the mainland the Placencia Peninsula or Hopkins. Miles of absolutely beautiful serene, white sand beaches await your arrival on your vacation to Belize.

Scuba Diving

Due to unlimited scuba diving options in Belize, it has become one of the favorite dive destinations for scuba divers vacationing in Belize. It is simply up to you whether it is the coral reef or a shipwreck that you would like to experience during your vacation in Belize. However, the best diving spots include the world-known Outer Atolls – Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Island and Glover’s Reef.

With so many interesting things to do during your Belize vacation, you’ll surely have the time of your life and will want to come back again and again. To make your Belize vacation, a memorable one, plan your holiday beforehand by consulting a reputed travel agency. A fantastic Belize Vacation Package can go a long way to enhance your enjoyment.

December to April is the peak tourist season in Belize. If you plan to visit around then, plan in advance and you can get some attractive vacation specials.

Getting to Belize which is in Central America is very easy. Major airlines such as American, Continental, Delta, US Air, and Taca Airlines run daily flights lasting about two hours from several U.S. cities to Belize International Airport.

Between Realism and Fiction , Dege – Western Kham

Dege, Western Kham, Border with Tibet
Long before the sun rises we are up. Behind the mountains it begins to dawn, we are engulfed by the beauty of the morning.
The night had been noisy, with Tibetan lemurs rummaging overhead in the double wooden ceiling, sleeping was difficult. Where we sleep, kitchen, hall and bedroom in one, the typical Tibetan house. Throughout the night I carried a flashlight to spot the noisy little creatures who were after the Chambar, the rye flour stored in the kitchen in a wooden box.
The breakfast is painstakingly prepared with Chambar, salted tea and yak butter, yak cheese, mingled in a cup and bare fingers. The hospitality of the Tibetan people has no equivalent, we are honored guests in their house, and dare not to refuse their persuasive welcome.
Red Tibetan furniture all around us, wooden tables, an open kitchen furnace, we sit on our bed eating and drinking the salted Lapsang, planning for the day. We will ascend to the mountains staying overnight , where wolves and bears still roam freely. As a result, every Tibetan carries a dagger, richly decorated with Silver and gemstones, according to his social standing.
A car takes us to the school where Mr. Chen’s wife is teaching Tibetan kids, in a scenic settlement 30 miles outside the city of Dege. We visit the school, its basic facilities and see only smiling, curious faces. Horses were called in the day before to carry me to the mountain, an almost impossible thought to bear. The means of communication is by word to mouth, as no transport other than by foot or horse can reach to this remote parts in 4000 m altitude.
We start our ascent at 0900 AM and the breathtaking beauty of the valley immediately takes me into a trance. My guide’s pace is fast, difficult to follow pace, I grasp for air in such high altitude. Alpine meadows on our way, tall yellow and purple cowslips along the trails, in the mountain meadows make me remember my own heritage. So similar is the vegetation here, I almost forget I am 8000 Miles from home in a far away location.
The trail is steep, the first plateau reached we stare at the mountains around us, the valley below, fields of rye in golden yellow. The main route to Chamda and to Lhasa, a 5 days journey by car. So vast are the distances here, one needs to shut off his sensing of time entirely for the duration of this journey. Time has no meaning, we are only temporary on this Earth.. Tibetan wisdom comes in many shapes.
The stream we now try to cross is covering the trail over hundreds of meters and we attempt to jump from stone to stone with limited success. Ice cold fresh mountain spring water, a definite substitute to the bottled water in PET packing. Prayer flags with diverse colors line the places where the water is deep, marking the auspiciousness of the location. Mountains and cliffs towering over our heads as we progress into the high altitude dwelling place of my guide’s grandparents. Eagles cry, circling above in the clear blue sky, looking for prey.
An hour into the walk we meet our horses, sent to take us on horseback to our destination. I chose not to ride and pack our luggage on the horseback, a white mare. Noticing the rider’s pregnancy I wonder how strong these people must be, living year in year out in such remoteness. No medical facilities, totally dependent on Tibetan Traditional Healing, easier in the summer months, unimaginable in winter when ice and snow cover the mountains.
A two and half hour ride on horseback, she immediately sets off to return back to her home. Astonishing endurance, strength, people here are robust like no other. I encounter the first Edelweiss on my trip, it makes me forget the strain on my body, for too long I was out of practice since leaving my home country. Recalling my Military training, Hauptmann Lukesch, and the 50 Miles we marched in Alpine regions, I think back and realize how time has passed so quickly.
Here in this region I find a variety of plants, wild fruits, Gooseberries, wild Strawberries, Raspberries in deep red growing nearby. Reminding me of my youth and the Alpine world I grew up with, where we would roam in the meadows after school, using the mountains as a playground, once again I see reflections of my early days appearing with every step I climb these trails.
We zigzag along the rocky paths, it takes all my strength for its steepness. The higher we reach the more spectacular the views, the more you feel yourself free. Only a mountaineer can understand this feeling, perhaps I felt a similar sensation the night I found myself in Beyla, Guinea.
The serpentine paths become more steep, walking dangerously close near to cliffs I realize I made a good choice not to move on horseback. Not being a good rider it would have been too risky, a reckless idea I contemplate.
Well into the afternoon, long overdue we reach the first house on a long stretch of green, rye growing up in this altitude of 4000 meters. We set of at 3000 meters, but the ascent was so strenuous it took me 8 hours to climb. Here in the mountains everyone knows each other, so our arrival had been heralded and we are invited to the first dwelling we see.
Sitting in the dark kitchen with only basic amenities, the lady of the house and her grandson invites me with the same hospitality I am so used to since coming to these parts. All I take is some fresh mountain spring water, trying hard to recover from the climb.
One can not describe the condition of this dwelling place, were it not to hurt the genuine people’s feelings. All they have is this, and this is their life. The rye gives them food throughout the year, and represents their staple diet. All houses in Tibetan tradition are built of raw timber, logs of Fir and are painted with a red mixture that contains yak butter. The yak butter helps to preserve the logs for a long period of time. When entering these parts one immediately notices this phenomena without realizing the deeper meaning of it.
I dread to climb further up and really push myself to reach the last 300 meters where the grandfather is anxiously awaiting us. We can see the house further up the mountain and can see the grandfather standing and looking towards us.
The last stretch lasts forever and I take a rest every now and then, grasping for air. When we finally reach, I feel totally exhausted.

“Blue” -The Pub That Rocks

Blues has an easy, mellow feel. It is run by Vikram Rajkhowa and brother Sanjay and Varun Das. It offers the perfect blend of both the world’s : the relaxed pub and high spirit of the night club. Painted in red and sea blue it is just the perfect to set the mood. It is quite famous among both the domestic as well as foreign tourists. People of all ages make a visit to this uber chic pub. Despite the generation and cultural differences there is a lot of socializing around.

Designed in accordance to the international standards the party enthusiasts would surely love to there. Comfortability of the visitors has been given the atmost priority. The unique kind of lounge sitting and the wooden dance floor in the middle are the added attraction.

Boozing is quite affordable at Blues. At the max in Rs 200 you can enjoying drinking at Blues. The place sells the highest tequila shots in the town and boosts of the extensive range of mocktails, cocktails, and wines. The most favorite drink among the males is the Sex on the beach while women prefer Cosmopolitan and Caprioshka. The mocktails are named after the local landmarks such as Majuli (the largest river island in the world) or Shillong Peak. And talk about the Blue Devil or Kamikaze, that are simply rocking.

Apart from the exotic drinks, it serves the finest food, that includes Chinese, Thai, and Indian. The starters will surely give the kick start and you believe me you won’t stop than. The specialties of the lues include Drunken Chicken Wings, Smoked pork, BBQ chicken, Crispy Conjee lamb, Peshwari Murg, or Ghlafi Seekh. In sizzlers you can try out Mexican grilled chicken with salsa or grilled fish mornay. On the platters you have the butter naan, zeera pulao, dal makhni, butter chicken, or paneer pasanda, paapad and raita.

The Euphonious Music – DJ Nishant
Monday: Lounge
Tuesday: Rock
Wednesday: Retro
Thursday: Live Piano and Jazz
Friday: Trance and Psychedelic

Charges : Couples Rs 300 on Fridays
On Saturdays and Sundays : Rs 200
Free entry on Monday to Thursday

Location : Zoo road Tiniali, R.G.B Road, Guwahati

Bangkok Red Light Districts – Practical Guide on Avoiding Getting Ripped Off in a Go Go Bar

Bangkok’s red light districts can be a whole lot of fun. The loud blaring music, the cheap booze and oh yes hordes of bar girls is a simple formula for a night to remember. But Bangkok’s nightlife adult entertainment can be ripe with rip offs and unscrupulous characters who target the new and uninitiated. If that’s you – then found below how you can remove that bulls eye off of your head.

Yes the majority of people working in Bangkok’s sex industry are friendly and accommodating. But if you give them a chance to suck a few hundred or so Baht out of you they will. Especially if they know you are a first timer.

Take for example a typical scene in a go go bar. You will always get asked by a bar girl if it is your first time in Bangkok or not. This isn’t their way of practicing their English skills, it’s just their way of sizing you up in terms of how much they are going to charge you for their services. So a typical short time (1 hour) rendezvous with a bar girl is typically 1500THB to 2000THB. If you admit your a newbie it goes up to 2500THB to 3000THB.

You should also carry smaller Thai bills, like 100THB and 500THB. It’s much simpler and easy went it comes to paying your drink bill and avoid getting short changed by crooked waitresses. It’s not a common occurrence. But it happens.

It also helps that you refrain yourself from getting too drunk especially if you are alone. If you are visibly wasted then you’re increasing your risk of getting your whole wallet stolen.

Finally be wary of how much money you are actually handing out. The 100THB and 500THB bills are similar in color. Since most go go bars in Bangkok are lit in red both bills look even more similar. So do keep those separate.

BEAUTY Calls! – A Travel to Deserts in INDIA

Visiting places is in our blood – we all enjoy it. Be it the next stop light tiny plaza or Eiffel Tower, the basic goal of having a good time amidst this hectic life is well served. I wonder when pre-humans or humans constantly traveled places in search of food and shelter, what surprises they must have met in daily lives. And surprises are plenty if one lands in India known for its rich culture and established traditions. And, if it is going to be India then Rajasthan, the land of colors and traditions, will be amongst the top choices on any tour of this country of rich culture and tradition.

Rajasthan is the place where you will experience the real historical beauty of India. You will just love the place and cherish the trip forever. It is India’s one of the very famous tourist destinations inviting people from all over the world. This beautiful place is famous for its historical tombs, magnificent palaces, unforgettable monuments and out-of-this-world deserts. Touring a place like Rajasthan would definitely give you a taste of travel which would be like no other – even among Indian travelers list, it finds itself among the toppers. What else do we want for the worth of our investment? The most famous place in Rajasthan is the capital city of Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. The other popular places of the state are Jodhpur, Jaiselmer, Udaipur, Mount Abu and Bikaner.

One of the major attractions of the state is the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the year 1799. The beauty of seeing it during the sunrise is very commendable. The architecture gives a feeling of “million windows”. The other major attractions are Mount Abu a beautiful hill station, Ajmer Sharif, Pushkar Fair, Jantar Mantar, Chittaurgarh, Jaiselmer fort, the Thar Desert and many more. Jaipur has come to the limelight for being the largest gem cutting centre in the world – ladies think jewelry. It is the best place to get precious stones such as diamonds, emeralds, and ruby etc. Tourists who visit Jaiselmer can’t afford to miss the camel safari which is situated in the heart of the Thar Desert. It is also famous for various temples, forts and ancient palaces. The architectural beauty of Rajasthan is grand and spectacular. The beauty of its monuments, palaces and forts is something which can never be forgotten. Another historical city Ajmer is well-known for the Ajmer Sharif and museums.

The adventurous journey in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries such as Ranthambore National Park which is a part of Project Tiger, Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuaries and Sariska Wildlife sanctuaries are really enjoyable by the tourists. Parks such as Amrita Devi Park and Machia Safari Park are very popular. The colorful markets are also very attractive for the tourist where you can find handicraft items, gold jewelry and a special type of footwear called “Jootis” which will definitely draw your attention. It’s a land known for folk dance, music, and colors. The women dress up in colorful costumes embroidered with mirror, zari, and gota. They wear silver jewelry along with this costume. The men wear traditional achkan, pajama and colorful turban which look very beautiful. Without knowing the costumes and ornaments of Rajasthan one’s trip to Rajasthan is incomplete.

Rajasthan is the state of Rajputs or, translated literally means sons of kings, the descendants of warrior clans. Rajasthan, literally known as the land of Kings, was ruled by several kings for years and years. All the monuments, ‘havelis’ or huge residences, palaces, and temples etc were built during the reign of different kings and reflect the status of their affluence. Some of the majestic palaces have been converted into hotels for the tourists to experience what royals used to enjoy. In addition, there are other hotels bearing Rajasthan’s heritage like Taj Lake Palace, the Oberoi’s Rajvilas hotel, the Rambagh hotel, etc. How can we talk about Rajasthan and not mention its cuisine! Taste buds will miss the cuisines as you would leave the place. The king’s palace has dishes that imbibe the royal taste. It’s basically vegetarian food made up of pure ghee as Rajasthani’s are pure vegetarian. But this doesn’t bring a limitation to finding equally delicious non-vegetarian food in the land.

Natural beauty is plenty. Rajasthan is a desert treat for eyes, it’s blessed with several natural lakes. While talking about flora it has Northern Desert Thorn Forest, and fauna such as deer, tiger, blackbuck, Bengal fox, eagles, wolf etc. Although expensive, the Palace on Wheels train journey is designed to flaunt the sheer elegance of Rajasthan as you lose yourself in a cross-desert land ride to witness where heritage is of utmost honor. Book early a ticket on Palace on Wheels, if you are planning a trip because the rush hour is 24X7 for booking on Palace on Wheels.

The climate over there is extreme that is hotter days and colder nights but still people love to visit the place no matter what because at last the thing which matters is having an unforgettable experience at such a nice place. When are you planning your visit to the most beautiful historical place to rejuvenate yourself and take away the good memories with you? You better plan it with at least a month’s window at hand as the place has so much to offer and it won’t be surprising if you meet your couple of old family friends there.