Barbados - Getting Around

Once upon a time, locals and tourists alike got around the Caribbean island of Barbados on horse-drawn trams that ran on tracks. The capital city of Bridgetown its locus, this became the largest, longest-running, most colorful horse-car tram system in the Caribbean with 25 tram cars on 5 lines running on 10 miles of track.  The system operated for 40 years, until 1925. 

Today, transportation on the 14-by-21-mile island offers more - and faster - ways of getting around, although I personally would love the romance of traveling the glorious Barbados coastline in a horse-drawn tram. 

1. Rent a Moke. Of course, you can rent a conventional car, but the open-sided little Mokes are a lot more fun to zip around in. Like all rental cars in Barbados, they have right-hand drive. Mokes, around $75US a day, have manual transmission and air-conditioning courtesy the whole of outdoors. Beware: if it rains, you'll get soaked!

2. Hop a route taxi. Called Zed-R vans because their license plates begin with the letters ZR. At 75 cents a head, the Zed-R vans often cram more than the 15 passengers they're designed to hold. There are no regular stops; people flag down a Zed-R van anywhere they happen to be.

3. Flag down a taxi. There are taxi companies and there are individuals who are licensed to drive their cars as taxis. The license plate of both types begins with the letter Z. They have no meters; always ask the price for a ride to your destination before getting into a Barbados taxi.

4. Take the bus. The Barbados Transport Board runs the official bus service of Barbados. Bus stops are plentiful and are noted by round signs reading, "To city" and "Out of city." The city referred to is Barbados' capital, Bridgetown, where many buses take you so you can board another bus going to your specific location. The bus system in Barbados is quite good and the buses are clean and very popular with tourists. The fare is an exact-change of 75 cents, Barbados currency (about 37 cents in US currency).

Exploring the island is fun because the geography varies from white sandy beaches to the lush "Little Scotland" to the plentiful sugar cane fields. Be prepared, though, to be detained by a man pushing a cart full of coconuts ahead of you. But then, who's in a hurry in Barbados?

About the Author

Get the real scoop on Barbados by visiting Jane Shattuck's blog at http://OneLoveBarbados.com For casually elegant beachfront Barbados vacation rentals, please check her site, http://BarbadosBeachVacationRentals.com Ms. Shattuck is an American living in Barbados, married to a Barbadian, and building a vacation rental business and a life in her new home.

Honeymoon in Pattaya - Seems Really Exciting

Honeymoon has a special place in every one's heart. Everyone wants to make his honeymoon the perfect one! So, if you are one of such people who have recently got married then you must go through this article. In this article, we are going to talk about an excellent honeymoon destination, Pattaya. It is a great place to visit for all. You must consider this destination for your honeymoon. I can assure you that once you are here with your beloved partner you would never want to go back.

Now, let us take a sneak peak in to the exotic destination named, Pattaya. Well, Pattaya is a beautiful city located in Thailand. It is located near Bangkok and this makes it an excellent travel vacation destination for the tourists from all over the world. Well, if you are looking to visit Pattaya then you can take help from different modes of transport. A large number of international airports and railway stations are available in Pattaya. So, you can easily reach this place without any trouble.

So, if you are visiting Bangkok, then you should really visit this place once. It is simply paradise on earth. There are a large number of tourist attractions here. You can visit all these places with your beloved partner. I would like to tell you that if you are looking for a deluxe and luxury experience then this is the right place for you. It is an amazing hotspot amongst the tourists all over the world. However, I would like to tell you that you will have to spend a lot of money if you want to visit this place.

Now, let us talk about some of the finest places to visit in this city.

1. Beer bars in Pattaya

Well, if you love to party all night and spend hours in night clubs and Beer bars then this is a must visit place for you. You can get all types of drinking beverages here. These bars are open for 24 hours for the tourists from all over the world.

2. Flight of the Gibbon

Well, it is simply out of this world. It allows you to fly through a secure zip-line course. You can simply experience the beauty of the forests available here. So, these are some of the places to visit in Pattaya. Make sure you visit them. They could certainly enhance the fun of your vacation. Have fun and enjoy yourself!

For more info on romantic honeymoon visit us at Honeymoon Ideas.

Visit Stiegel-Brauwelt in Salzburg This Summer!

In the oldest and most attractive parts of the Stieglbrauerei beer enthusiasts will find the largest hands-on beer museum in Europe. Here you will find out everything you wanted to know about Stiegel Beer and its cultural background.

The Stiegl Brauwelt at Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg - now, Austria's largest privately owned brewery - is a further attraction for visitors to Salzburg. The fascinating history of the brewing of this most beloved barley drinks is told in the 'Erlebnisbrauerei' living brewery, the World of Beer and the Stiegl Museum covering 500 years of brewing tradition. Up to 10 different types of Stiegl beer can be sampled in the comprehensively renovated fermenting cellar from 1863 and on request selected meals can be served in accompaniment. A place to savor, relax and enjoy Salzburg hospitality at the highest level.

The brewery provides tours in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish and you can arrange tours accompanied with beer and cheese tasting, a combined tour around Salzburg Zoo with a show; "Mein lieber Brausud!", a Guided tour around Stiegl-Brauwelto, Beer tasting and a Gift from the Braushop. They also offer tours such as "A traditional get-together" which is a 3 hour experience of a tour around Stiegl-Brauwelt, Beer tasting, a meal, show, live entertainment and gift from the shop.

Since 1st October 2007, fresh beer has been tapped in the "Stiegel-Brauwelt" and fresh regional food is now served there for visitors in the fantastic on site restaurant, "Braustube tavern". Here they serve local Austrian delicacies, as well as national specialties such as crispy roast chicken, spare ribs, horseradish and fresh baked bread. The beer exhibition is open in summer between July and August from Mon-Sun 10.00 - 19.00. Adults pay EUR9 for entry and child tickets cost EUR4, with free admission for under sixes.

In May 2007 the owner and manager of the brewery, Dr. Heinrich Dieter Kiener officially opened the "Braugarten" in the old brewery courtyard of Stiegl-Brauwelt.

The Braugarten beer garden is located in the oldest part of the Stiegl brewery premises and offers a unique atmosphere under the shade of chestnut trees. It features a beer font and a view of the old brewery mash house; ideal surroundings for sampling the many types of freshly pulled Stiegl beer. With lots of Salzburg accommodation available, Stiegl-Brauwelt is a must see on your Austrian holiday.

In addition to this brewery, why not visit the home of "Weissbier", one of Austria's best types of beer. If you walk to the end of the pedestrian zone on the right bank of the Salzach, you will find the White Beer Brewery ("Weissbierbrauerei"). Nearby there is an abundance of Salzburg hotels and Salzburg apartments, so you can easily go and learn a little bit of "Weissbier" history! After spending four days in a fermenting vat, the "Hefeweissbier" is filled into bottles, where the yeast lets it age for two weeks. Brewed according to an old Bavarian recipe, the "white" beer tastes best on a warm summer evening soaking up the buzzing atmosphere in the brewery garden.

Leah Penn spends most of her time reading, writing and living Salzburg. In particular she likes creating useful guides for tourists about culture, sightseeing and accommodation, in particular apartments in Salzburg and accommodation in Salzburg She updates her website; oh-holidays.com regularly.

The Picasso Museum, Barcelona

Picasso Museum in Barcelona, depicts the heart of inspiration of many works is the legendary Picasso. The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is the first museum of art for art lovers and architecture buffs.

The Picasso Museum has one of the most important collections of works by Picasso. In the early 1960s, the museum's collection came from Picasso's closest friend Jaime Sabartes. Sabartes began filling the museum with hundreds of works by Picasso.

Located in the heart of old Barcelona, five palaces make up the museum. Visitors will be pleasantly surprised to find the museum in a quiet street in the heart of the Gothic Quarter. The construction of the property dates from the 1300s and the medieval structure is valued for its incredible architecture. A recent expansion gives visitors five zones to discover the famous art pieces. More than one million people visit the Picasso Museum in Barcelona every year.

Around four thousand people work in the Picasso, this justifies his work. A vast collection carries visitors on a journey of art from the beginning of his emerging talent, until the time when the artist was in Barcelona and later in Paris. Visitors will take into account the large collection of works by Picasso museum's blue period and added exposure sketches of artists and preteen children. The collection also contains drawings, prints and paintings from Cubist period and also the period from mid 1920 to mid-1930s, when he was under the influence of the Surrealists.

The most famous of the many collections of the museum is Las Meninas dating from the mid-1950s. More useful to visitors, for this particular work, is a correlation guide that describes the inspiration of the artist for each element. The important collection of museum pieces is "First Communion" and "Science and Charity" are considered the two most famous paintings.

After spending their day over here, visitors will find a bar and a pleasant restaurant in the museum with reasonable prices. Many other tourist activities are a short distance from the Picasso Museum in Barcelona.

Hotels in Barcelona provide the easiest access to the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and also for many other activities. The apartments in Barcelona offer more availability in the Gothic Quarter and the reservation can be made online.

Trane Air Conditioner & Trane Air Conditioners

Memorials of War in Singapore

Singapore was a fiercely contested territory during the Second World War between the Allied troops and the pro-Nazi Japanese. Why does this translate into an interesting vacation experience? Because, Singapore holds some of the world's best preserved World War II monuments and artifacts.

Some interesting places to visit that bring back memories of the darkest chapter in modern history are the Battle Box, the Changi Chapel and Museum, the Civilian memorial, Fort Siloso and the Johore Battery.

Tucked into the hillside of Fort Canning is the Battle Box, the largest underground command centre of the British Malaya Command Headquarters during World War II. Comprising of 22 rooms linked by a corridor, this complex is bomb-proof and also capable of recycling its own air supply. Through the use of special audio-visual effects, and high-quality animatronics, visitors are able to relive the morning of 15 February 1942 when Singapore fell to the Japanese.

Fort Siloso was built by the British in the 1880s to protect the western entrance to the Singapore harbour, Fort Siloso is the only preserved British coastal fortification in Singapore today. The fort became a concentration camp for POWs (Prisoners Of War) during the Japanese Occupation from 1942 to 1945.

The Changi Chapel, housed within the open-air courtyard of the Museum, is a symbolic replica of the many chapels built during the Japanese Occupation. Built by Changi Prison inmates, it stands as a monument to those who maintained their faith and dignity during those dark years. One of the museum's main highlights is the replica of The Changi Murals, a series of magnificent wall paintings recreated from the originals painted by bombardier Stanley Warren.

These are only a few of the thought provoking memorials of the World War that are to be found in Singapore many can be found strewn all over the island. Singapore hotels offer tours and special packages to visit these historically important sites. Some historic hotels in Singapore also have their own monuments and memorials dedicated to World War II.

James Cook is an executive at Hotelseye. SingaporeHotelseye has access to a wide collection of Singapore hotels located near many popular area attractions. The portal also offers other Singapore travel services such as car rentals and fight reservations. For more info please visit http://www.singaporehotelseye.com

Ghosts and Ghouls of Ireland - The Banshee

Banshee is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic word bean si (meaning woman of the side or woman of the fairy mounds), it is a female ancestral spirit who forewarns members of certain families about impending death. According to legend, the banshee will wail around the house the night before somebody inside is about to die.

There are only certain families that are believed to have a banshee attached to them - O'Grady, O'Brien, O'Connor, O'Donnell, O'Neill and Kavanagh, although intermarriage has extended this select list.

She generally appears in two different guises, either as a beautiful young woman with long, fair hair or as a hideous hag. They dress in a white or grey cloak and brush their long hair with a silver comb, there is an existing superstition in Ireland that if you see a comb you should not pick it up as it may be a lure used to spirit humans away.

The sound of the banshee, a peculiarly mournful sound like the wind possessing a human tone terrifies people, there have been many instances where everybody in a house was in great health though once the wail was heard somebody would be drowned, or killed suddenly within a week.

There are some locations in Ireland where it is said that the banshee resides and does not leave. One of these is Dunluce Castle on the north Co. Antrim coast, which was the great home of the ruling O'Donnell clan before they were forced to the four corners of the world during the tumultuous Flight of the Earls. According to legend, the banshee remains to lament the scattered clan.

Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: Russell Shortt, http://www.exploringireland.net

Kakigori is a Cup of Ice Flake You Can Eat in Japan

Snow cone eating is the easiest way to become cool within ten minutes in hot summer days, and it is also true in Kyoto, Japan.

In Kyoto, as you know, we have very hot and humidified weather in summer season. So we have a lot of amusement for becoming cool during summer season. One of the most well known cooling amusement is the Kawayuka open restaurant or bar held along the Kamogawa river only from May to September. Actually, it is not so cool enough to be sweatless in hot Kyoto summer, it is fun to have foods and drink with talking with your friends just under the cool wind blowing along the river, and it is also interesting to watch Japanese couples are dating along the river side wearing Yukata, Japanese traditional summer evening dress.

One more amusement I recommend you to enjoy Kyoto summer cool is to have a cup of Kakigori, Japanese traditional style snow cone. One of the most popular Kakigori shop is Gyokuen, found along the Kamogawa river. Although the small shop is crowded with many tourists all through the day, it is valuable to visit the shop and try Black sugar taste snow cone with white rice dumpling.

I eat a cup of Kakigori there at least once in a summer. Because it is made bay hands, not by an electric machine, the ice tips will melt in your mouse as if it is a snow flake. Of course, you will find many snow cone restaurant in Kyoto, but a few other shops are comparable to be valuable enough to wait in front of the shop more than a half hour.

Actually, however, the best season I recommend you to try those cool amusement in Kyoto is not summer, but in early autumn. Because even in late September, you will sometimes find yourself in very hot temperature in the afternoon, so you will be happy to taste a cup of ice in hot temperature without waiting in a line.

Please visit Kyoto Sweet Tottering, to confirm the information and find some other interesting articles for unknown sight-seeing way I do in Kyoto.

Krakow Nightlife

The 'new Prague' of Eastern Europe, the cobbled streets of Krakow house more than the nostalgic cultural throng of local history and contemporary cafés. For Poland's capital and latest tourist sensation also boasts a mean nightlife that's up there with Europe's best.

Cheap entertainment

In excess of 100,000 students have made Krakow their term time home, which ensures that there are a wide variety of reasonably priced clubs, bars and pubs to make travelers of any persuasion feel at home.

Travelers nursing their hangovers in youth hostels in Krakow are never far away from their next nightspot, and there are plenty of ancient goodies to keep them entertained throughout the day, especially in the resplendent enclaves of the Old Town.

For all tastes

To get the evening going with a couple of drinks, the Old Town specializes in atmospheric bars known as 'piwnice' (atmospheric cellar bars). These are a great place - generally stumbled upon, rarely found - to have a few excellent local 'piwos' (beers).

As the night lengthens, Krakow really comes into its own for the variety and quality of its clubs. Whether rock, jazz or drum and bass, Krakow rarely disappoints: Club Fusion on ul. Florianska is a firm favorite with the international crowd, offering live music and DJ sets spanning, hip-hop, R&B and reggae.

On ul. Bracka, meanwhile, Rdza attracts only the cream of the drum and bass crowd. For more mainstream dance and techno, backpackers are well advised to hop out of their Krakow hostels and take themselves to the popular yet swanky Club Prozak on pl. Dominikanski.

For a more relaxing blend of cool music and laid back vibes, travelers are advised to head over to the Art Club Bledne Kolo on ul. Bracka which switches between chill out house and reggae dub nights that will set them up for a long night's (or rather morning's) sleep.

The historic district of Old Town finds its nightlife equal in the Kazimierz district down to the southeast of the city. Here travelers have a wide selection of places to explore for a night of revelry, many of which are in interesting, quirky or just downright attractive settings.

Before settling down and becoming a copywriter for HostelBookers. Paul Scottyn did a backpacking tour of Poland, he checked out a variety of the country's budget accommodation, including a number of most Krakow hostels.

Thai Bar Girls - Some Friendly Advice

Alright, I'm a relatively young guy (mid-twenties) who's currently living in Thailand. I'm here training Muay Thai and the gym that I'm living at is located in Patong - which is the "nightlife hotspot" in Phuket. However, my experience is not only limited to Phuket as I was also living and training in Pattaya for about 3 months last year.

Anyway, since I'm a long term resident here and the girls don't really view me as much of an income source, they sort of befriend me and let me in on their "hustle" - which is tricking guys into sending them money. Basically, I'm the guy that sees what goes on and how your "girlfriends" behave once you say your goodbye's and head for the departure gate at the airport.

Now, before I go any further, I'll take a minute to point out that not all of the girls have bad intentions. Some of them are actually truthful and loyal, and I obviously can't stereotype every single girl in a country with a population of about 64 million people. However, what I can do is pass along my own observations but keep in mind, I'm referring to the Thai bar girls and not Thai women as a whole.

The girls that work in the bars are usually a lot younger than the guys that fall in love with them. They're working in the bars for a reason, and that is to make money to provide for their families back at home - which is usually somewhere up in Issan. If you end up saying your goodbye's and going home, there a 100 percent chance that she will remain in the bars unless you send her money every month.

Of course, sending her money on a monthly basis doesn't buy her loyalty. A lot of these girls do an excellent job at making you believe that they genuinely love you and that you're the only one. The problem is that they're doing the same thing to multiple guys at once and oftentimes, they're stringing you all through the mud.

The internet cafes in either Pattaya or Patong become pretty interesting at around 3 in the morning. You know, because this is when the girls get home from work (the ones who didn't end up going with a "customer" that is) and they all sign into MSN to chat with their "boyfriends".

Oftentimes, I'll be working in there and it's not uncommon for me to see a girl with around 4 chat boxes going at once. However, the real sneaky girls will focus on each of their "sponsors" one on one. They will give each of them their undivided attention until they make up an excuse (usually that they're going to bed) and end the conversation.

Once they end the conversation, they will move onto the next guy (either unblock them) or switch accounts entirely. The best is when I overhear the girls ask the guys for money. It's always some sort of unexpected emergency too. You know, something like "My friend go Bangkok and take all money. Now I cannot pay for room" (of course, that's word for word how they would sound, broken English and all).

So, it begs the question. If the girls already have money coming in every month, why do they still work in the bars? Well, there's a few reasons. They realize that they're not going to remain young forever and there's a lot of pressure on them to provide for their families. They're not going to "put all of their eggs in one basket" so to speak by relying on only one guy. Rather, they're going to keep working in the bars, keep meeting foreign men and keep on trying to reel them in for long term income. After all, 5 income sources is better than 1, right?

And of course, as much as you hate to think about it, a lot of these girls will even go with guys for free while you're sending them money each month. With their income sources (you and whoever else is sending them money), they can afford it and it's foolish to think that they're not interested in younger, more physically attractive guys. It's only natural.

I've met girls here who actually work in the bars by choice (although most don't like it) and the reason they do so is because they're bored back at home. The longer they've been here, the greater the chance that they will want to stay because they lay down roots (make friends etc.). So, here's my advice to you guys who come here looking for love. First of all, you're probably looking in the wrong places (the bars) but if you insist on doing so, then I recommend that if you're going to open your heart (and your wallets) to one of these girls, you should find one who is very new on the scene.

The longer she's been here, the more hardened she will become. It's not so much about how long she's been here, but rather, if she's been "burned". And by "burned", I mean had her heart broken. If you get to her early, you can certainly be the guy that "saves" her. But if not, well, your heart and bank account will both be hurting by the end of your relationship.

There's no denying that the girls in Thailand are incredibly sexy so here is a site that will help you pass the time while you're back in your home country.

Thai Bar Girls - A Video Library Of Them!

Enjoy.

Koh Phangan - Thailand

Sitting on a three hour boat ride from the mainland, Koh Phangan is the last unspoiled island of any major size left in Thailand. Differing from its sister Koh Samui in many ways. Where Koh Samui is brash and built up, Koh Phangan is laid back with a landscape. Large property developers have yet to begin exploiting this tropical paradise, most development is restricted to discrete bungalow resorts.

Koh Phangan is still a popular destination for backpackers and budget travellers, infamous for its Full Moon Party most young travellers see the island as one of the highlights of their trip to Thailand. The party takes place at the southern end of the island in the town of Haad Rin, a hedonistic party town made up of meandering side streets packed with bars, restaurants and gift shops, bungalow resorts to suit every pocket and above all else the stunning Haad Rin Nok beach. At the time of the full moon, Haad Rin is packed full of revellers and advanced booking is recommended if you wish to stay in this part of the island at this time of the month.

Moving north from Haad Rin we next encounter Ban Tai, home to both the Half Moon Party and the Shiva Moon Party both large events themselves. Ban Tai is also where you will find the 'horny mile', a stretch of road almost a mile long that is populated by lady bars on each side. These bars are a lot more laid back than their counterparts in either Bangkok or Pattaya and seem to be a solid favourite with the middle aged tourists who arrive upon Koh Phangan.

Further north still you will come to Thongsala, the only true town upon the island, a vibrant mix of Thai shops, western bars and restaurants along with traditional food markets at every turn. At night the main market square becomes an open air restaurant serviced by a couple of dozen street vendors who set up tables and ply their trade. Some of the best food on Koh Phangan can be found here after the sun sets. Thongsala also houses the main ferry pier for the island and forms a natural gateway to the mainland.

Once you leave Thongsala behind and head further north you will notice a drastic change in the pace of life, things are quieter here with only occasional houses built and small village settlements with local shops. The villages of Wok Tum and Hing Kong are particularly lazy; both wonderful places for somebody looking for a longer term stay on the island.

Further up the coast road you will find Haad Yao and Haad Salad, both excellent diving areas with a close in reef allowing easy access for beach dives, further north still you will find Mae Haad and the small island of Koh Ma sitting an easy wade across the sea from Koh Phangan. This is the premier snorkelling spot on the island offering sites usually only witnessed by scuba divers.

Up at the northern tip of Koh Phangan you will find Chaloklam, a squid fishing village with a beautiful crescent beach. The seafood here is exceptional, taken straight from the sea each morning. At night you can watch the lights of the dozens of squid boats that ply the waters in this area, and then watch them return with their catch and dry it in the sun whilst you eat breakfast at a beachside restaurant.

Over on the west side of the island you will find Tong Nai Pan, originally a secluded backpacker community now the site of the largest developments upon Koh Phangan. Luxury resorts cater for the sun worshipers who agree that the western beach is the most beautiful upon the island.

Mac T. Wheeler is a freelance writer and a regular contributor at Budget Travel Guide