Naveen Marasinghe asked:


The Asian elephant population is fast diminishing and the Koh Lanta Elephant Trekking experience is a fun way to get to know these gentle giants and help preserve their upkeep. These elephants are looked after by a personal mahout, who treat them like family. Currently, the Koh Lanta Elephant Trekking experience has over 2000 elephants.

The Koh Lanta Elephant Trekking experience continues through a jungle and streams and ends at a different location according to the specific trekking route you wish go to along on. The first route ends at a rubber tree plantation, which will hold a demonstration of raw rubber production.

The elephant ride is one hour long and falls through the luscious tropical rainforest of Phra Ae Camp. The first route is family-oriented, allowing the tourists to participate in the elephant feeding and educating them on how and where elephants live, all supervised by an experienced guide. The second route includes a visit to the Mai Kaew Cave. The third route falls along a sea gypsy village known as Baan Sang Ga U and the tourist must stop here to enjoy lunch and beautiful views. From here, a walk to the waterfalls and a visit to Lanta National Park are scheduled.

Route number four includes a bit of adventure sports, arranging a kayaking trip (at an individual’s preferred pace) through luscious mangrove forest filled with wildlife in their natural habitat. Finally, there’s the route where you get to visit the Orchid and Butterfly Garden after the one-hour ride.

Koh Lanta is linked with Thailand’s ultimate luxury tourism sector and when in Koh Lanta, it’s absolutely essential to stay at a luxury vacation spa resort. Among them, the Krabi luxury villas are simply superb.

peterhutch asked:


 

Capital: Kathmandu

Language: Nepali (official) & 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects. Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is related to the Indian language, Hindi, and is spoken by about 90 percent of the population in either native or second language fluency. Many Nepalese in government and business also speak English.

Religion: The majority of the population is Hindu (89%) or Buddhist (6%); there are also small groups of Muslims, Jains, Bons and Christians.

Currency: The official currency is Nepali Rupee (NPR), which is divided into 100 paisa. As change can be a problem it is recommended that visitors have a supply of small notes handy. Tourist activities are often quoted in US Dollars and it is advisable to carry new dollar bills in varied denominations. Both Euro and US dollar travelers cheques are widely accepted in tourist areas and can be cashed easily in most banks and major hotels throughout the country. There are ATMs in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards are accepted in many tourist hotels, shops, restaurants and travel agencies.

Climate: Nepal has a typical monsoonal two-season a year. There is dry season from October to May and there is the wet season, the monsoon, from June to September. September-November, the start of the dry season, is in many ways the best time of the year in Nepal. When Monsoon just ends, the countryside is green and lush. Nepal is at its most beautiful and during this season there are plenty of colorful festivals to enjoy.

Economy – overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for 38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange.



Trekking: The best way to experience Nepal’s unbeatable combination of natural beauty and cultural richness is trekking. Trekking does not mean mountain climbing but refers to walking on trails. Neither you need any advanced training nor have to be very sportive. So anyone with a pair of strong legs and adventurer spirit will enjoy the thrills of trekking in the foothills of Nepal Himalayas.

Nepal lies between China and India in South Asia. The king of this constitutional monarchy traces his lineage to the ruler of Gorkha, who unified the area in the late 18th century. The present monarch, King Gyanendra, came to the throne in 2001 after the tragic murder of the previous king. Violent political protest in early 1990 opened the way to multiparty government. Since then, no single party has been able to form a majority, resulting in a number of incompatible coalitions. The king postponed elections in 2002 because Maoist insurgents controlled nearly half of Nepal mostly the poorer western region. This political instability has not fostered economic reforms, and Nepal remains one of the world’s poorest countries.

Highlights of Nepal: Package tours, Buddhist pilgrimage, Trekking, expeditions, Ballooning , Avia gliding, cable car ride, white water rafting, Jungle safari, heli trekking bird watching, Buddhist pilgrimage, cycling, shopping, casinos, mountain flight, Bungy jumps, cultural tours, fossils finding, bird watching etc.

Nick Nikolis asked:


Greece is located in Europe, surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It is a peninsula country. Windsurfing in Greece is a very popular sport. It became so because of Nikos Kaklamanakis during the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.This mountainous country, with plenty of Islands offers ideal wind conditions in which to enjoy windsurfing.

The PBA, which is also known as the world association for professional windsurfers, has met every year since 1993. The World Championship windsurfing competitions have been held in the islands of Greece, and especially on the lovely Golden Beach. As one of the prominent mecques of windsurfing in Greece, Golden Beach graces the island of Paros, which is in the Cyclades, with amazing windsurfing opportunities.

The best area to practice windsurfing is the regions of the Aegean Sea which are blew by a summer wind coming from the North. These winds are called the Meltemi winds. These winds blow from May to September and their wind force is strongest during July and August. The fierce intensity of these winds will vary depending upon the region. Such winds are found in islands Naxos and Paros, found in the Cycladic Islands. Because of these helpful wind conditions, thousands of windsurfers flock here every summer.

There are other popular watersports that people enjoy in Greece. There is one called Kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is a blend of elements of windsurfing, surfing and what is known as wakeboarding. This is a rather new sport that first became really popular back in the 90’s, and is also called kitesurfing. Depending on the size of the kite, you can kiteboard at different wind strengths. The bigger your kite is, the lighter force of the wind you can enter in and this can go the opposite way. Kiteboarding is actually easier to earn than windsurfing or just plain surfing. Surprisingly to the students, they are able to get up on their boards after only two lessons form a certified instructor.

Another watersport enjoyed in Greece is what is known as wakeboarding. It is very like water skiing, the most familiar watersport, in which the wakeboarder is pulled behind a boat at speeds of up to 24 mph. main difference between plain waterskiing and wakeboarding is that the boarder uses a single board, resembling a snowboard instead of skis, with bindings. This is fast becoming very popular sport all over, especially in Greece.

For surfers who would like to join a club, there are a variety of windsurfing clubs in Greece. One popular example is the Paros Kite Boarding Center. This Club is a shoreline with a sandy bottom, shallow water and perfect wind conditions. This beach is good for levels beginner through advanced kiteboarding and windsurfing. The Paros Kite Boarding Center has certified, expert windsurfing instructors that can start out the beginner and even teach novice surfers new tricks, all at the learner’s own pace.

Something to consider when particpating in any watersports while vacationing in Greece is to think about the weather. The weather in Greece is has mild winters, warm summers, and is cooled by a variety of seasonal winds.

Their summers are delightfully sunny and is met with very little rainfall! These weather conditions easily lend themselves to a very enjoyable summer holiday in Greece.

Greece is an amazing country with lots to offer the tourist. The most popular attractions of the country is the many picturesque beaches dotting its shores. With 13,676 km of coastlines, one will definitely find the beaches of his dreams

It would not be difficult for a visitor to find the ideal beach to visit and participate in their favorite watersport when there is up to 13,676 KM of scenic shorelines. The beaches themselves offer a lovely picture for people to sit quietly and gaze upon. there are beaches that are covered in sand so white you might be blinded if the sun hit just right, with crystal-clear, turquoise waters. You might also see beaches hugged by huge cliffs or fragrant pine forests, or even palm trees.

Richard Ryan asked:


Some things in life are just unavoidable facts: you’re a bit fatter than you think you are, the biggest jams occur when you’re late, and a feature about Langkawi will bang on about how splendid the beaches are.

Well, not this feature. No sir. Lovely as the acres of white sand surrounding the 99 islands of Langkawi may be, there’s so much more to do on holiday here than sitting endlessly on a sun lounger knocking back Martinis.

I wish to celebrate the hidden Langkawi – the treats that the average tourist forgets to experience.

The Giant Eagle or the cable car to the top of Gunung Mat Cincang both have their charm, but everyone does those, so lets take a look at the real adventures, the titbits that generally you only discover by word of mouth.

Take, for example, the splendid sunset cruises offered by Crystal Yachts. The experience, as if it wasn’t already splendid enough to be aboard a 42-foot yacht sailing your way around ‘Sunset Point’, is greatly enhanced by the superb on-board barbeque and free-flow alcohol.

Organised by Canadian Jamie Scott and his endlessly cheerful wife Ryoko, the cruises have been departing almost daily for 19 years. Surely they must be sick of seeing the sun go down by now: “Definitely not,” says Ryoko. “It’s a different experience every evening, so you can never see it too many times.”

A similar sentiment could be expressed about time spent with the singularly named Dev. As well as being Langkawi’s leading naturalist, he also possesses the kind of engaging manner that leaves you hanging on his every word.

With Dev as your guide you can explore Langkawi’s splendid ecology – whether that be through a bicycle ride through river banks, paddy fields and forest, a Mangrove kayak trip, jungle trekking or bird watching.

While you’ve got such an experienced guide by your side, why not request an excursion to Gua Tok Sabung? This fascinating cave contains some of the most impressive stalactites and stalagmites in all of Langkawi, many of which are as attractive as quality marble. You better be feeling brave that morning though as thousands of bats roost within, shrieking away.

Another cave worthy of consideration is Gua Pinang. Located off a tributary at Kuala Kubang Badak, this cave is situated in an area which was under the sea thousands of years ago, as indicated by the abundance of ancient seashells embedded in the cave walls.

If caves aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of mangroves to visit instead. Dev can arrange tours. “The mangroves are fascinating,” he says. “Mangrove trees are capable of tolerating a salty environment, until the next low tide exposes them to fresh water. Each mangrove tree species has its specific location – so trees with a low tolerance to saltwater are close to the rainforest, while trees with a big tolerance are closer to the sea and have developed stilt roots.”

Langkawi isn’t just about outdoor activities though, if it’s raining (or even if it’s not) a trip to Underwater World (found at Zon Pantai Cenang) is recommended. The 34,701 square foot oceanarium is most notable for its gigantic 15-meter long walk-through tunnel surrounded by 500,000 litres of seawater. Housed in the water are many big fish and sea creatures including the Giant Green Turtle.

With more than 4,000 different fish and animals to gawp at (covering 500 different species) you’re guaranteed to leave the attraction knowing more than when you went in.

Of course, some of you will be feeling that I’ve missed the entire point about sitting by the beach, it’s not about being idle, it’s the pleasure of a cooling dip in the sea never being more than a few steps away. But there are plenty of ways to keep cool around Langkawi without going anywhere near the sea – from waterfalls to lakes.

Perhaps the most impressive is Telaga Tujuh, or Seven Wells. This magnificent waterfall is a geological marvel where the water cascades about 90 meters down via a series of seven pools, hence its name. Adding a mystical touch to the natural splendor is the lush green forest that surrounds it. Legend has it that fairies used to visit the spot to frolic and bathe.

Of course if Telaga Tujuh excites you you’ll be blown away by Durian Perangin, located in Raya Mountain Nature Park, as this waterfall has 12 levels of cascading water. Getting to either location is easy enough if you have a word with a local taxi driver, but again we’d recommend giving Dev a call to get the most from your trip.

For swimming a great option is Tasik Dayang Bunting (or Lake of the Pregnant Maiden) a freshwater lake on the island of Dayang Bunting, the second largest in the Langkawi archipelago.

The lake is the setting for one of Langkawi’s most famous and enduring legends. It is said that Mat Teja, a male genie, secretly fell in love with Mambang Sari, a beautiful female genie, on the island. They had a baby next to the lake but it died after a week.

Saddened by the death Mambang Sari took the child’s body and threw it into the lake, which gave rise to the belief that swimming in its waters can make women more fertile.

So, if you happen to be lying on the beach reading this, have a think about making the move inland. There’s a lot more to Langkawi than most people realise – it’s just waiting to be discovered.

 

 

Angel Dulay asked:


What is it really like to be in a rainforest? It’s hot and sticky. As you eco-trek out of your hammock and go hiking, you’re immediately covered in sweat. Your underwear clings, your pants cling, and things that Eek! aren’t part of your clothing at all cling to you. You’re also instantly covered in bugs. And the wet forest is, as its name would imply, wet. Hence, Whoops! Slippery. You’re immediately covered in mud too.

 

While you’re trying to remove the sweat, bugs and mud off with handkerchiefs, moist towelettes and Off (in the environmentally friendly pump containers), you’ll find insects that look like sticks and frogs that look like leaves and moths that look like birds and lizards that look like anything they sit on. There seem to be problems with identity in the jungle. Among the various things the wet forest needs is, probably, psychiatric help.

 

Every kind of plant and animal has some sort of stringer, barb, thorn, prickle, spine, poison. There’s a fierce competition for nutrients on the ground which is why rainforest soil is so notoriously poor and easily damaged by horticulture. The tremendous hardwood trees of the jungle, rising 120 feet with prodigious buttresses and trunks as big around tract houses are rooted in earth where you couldn’t grow petunias.

 

The wet forest is not, however, scary; not even in the dark. Though it is dense, tangled, and filled with remarkably icky things like bugs, you start looking at the multitude of insects. The astounding number of them. The great smacking bogs and oodles, the scads, the lasings of bugs galore. Why do people spend so little time contemplating the ugliness of nature? How many humans get all the way through even the most fabulous sunset without getting up for a beer or going inside to check the evening news? But you can watch an enraged fruit bat trying to take out a professor’s face. An enraged Malaysian fruit bat looks like a colonel in the RAT Airforce. It has a set of teeth that look like it could perform an appendectomy. If I were a local resident, I’d keep the fruit out in the garage or rent a mini-storage space.

 

Trekking along the footpaths and rocky outbacks of Asia’s forests you come across water camps. Here, really sophisticated efforts at simplicity have been made. The camps are nothing but wobbly, bamboo platforms with a roof of palm leaves. Some camps get balsa plaques carved by previous tour groups. The plaques bear names of travelers and descriptions of some of the highlights of their travels. Some contain poems in the order of:

 

Though the bugs made noise,

Our trip was full of joys,

Because the monkey howls’

And the wise owl hoots,

That it is bad to pollute.

 

So, we all know what awaits us: muggy outcrops, swampy mangroves, river floodplains. In the forest, an unknown number of animal, plant and insect life wait to be discovered. They can be reached by air and land travel. What strikes many tourists’ fancy nowadays is having a taste of life in the rainforest.

 

 

Sites for Nature and Jungle Adventures

 



Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor, Mangrove forest

Templer Park, Selangor, Mountain forest

Ulu Bendol, Negeri Sembilan, Mountain forest

Endau Rompin, Johor, Lowland rainforest

Lowland rainforest, Johor, Highland rainforest

Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Highland & mountain rainforest

Taman Negara, Pahang, Lowland and hill rainforest

Tasik Chini, Pahang, Freshwater swamp forest

Tasik Bera, Pahang, Freshwater swamp forest

Genting Highlands, Pahang, Highland rainforest

Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, Highland rainforest

Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu, Freshwater swamp forest

Danum Valley, Sabah, Highland and mountain forest

Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Highland and mountain forest

Kinabatangan Floodplain, Sabah, Freshwater swamp forest

Gunung Emas, Sabah, Highland rainforest

Bako National Park, Sarawak, Mangrove and mixed forest

La Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Hill rainforest & limestone pinnacles

Niah National Park, Sarawak, Lowland rainforest



 

 

 

Jungle Adventure Tips

 



Find out as much as you can about the trail and surroundings.



 



Plan your route carefully to allow enough time for you to complete it before darkness sets in.



 



Know you physical limits and only undertake trails that you know you can handle.



 



Inform the park official or other people of your plans for the day, especially if you are going alone.



 



Pack plenty of water and a few snacks to maintain your energy level.



 



It is best to set out at dawn when animals begin to seek food and the warmth of the early morning sun. Move about as quietly as possible to avoid scaring any wildlife.



 



Wear thin, loose, cotton clothing to remain comfortable.



 



Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts protect arms and legs from mosquitoes and thorny plants.



 



Wear sturdy shoes that support your ankles well and allow your feet to grip the ground as you walk Leech socks or long socks prevent leeches from getting at your legs.



 



A poncho, large enough to cover you and your belongings, will provide protection from sudden rain showers.



 



A wide brimmed hat is highly recommended for providing shade from the tropical sun.



 

By ANGEL DULAY