The Youngest Country On Earth

Multi-cultural, diverse, stunning, pristine, young… These are just some of the words used to describe New Zealand. I have a lot of friends, former officemates, who have moved to New Zealand together with their families, to work and live there. They have described the country so beautifully that I begun to develop a romantic affinity over the place. According to them pictures could not even do justice to the beauty of its landscapes.

Dubbed as the youngest country on earth because it was the last land mass to be discovered, New Zealand’s awesome landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind.

In fact UNESCO has recognized 3 areas as world’s heritage sites which mean that these places (Tongariro National Park, Te Wahipounamu and the Subantarctic Islands) are considered and recognized as having outstanding natural and cultural value for everyone. Active volcanoes, ancient native forests, prehistoric glaciers, snow-covered Alps have been internationally recognized as irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.

But New Zealand is not just all mountains and landscapes, it has bustling and modern cities as well, which are described as diverse, sophisticated, and multicultural. In fact New Zealand is one of the world’s most favorite travel destinations. There are 3 popular cities Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest city, while Wellington is the capital. On the other hand, Christchurch is known as “The Garden City” because of its well-established expansive parks and public gardens.

Auckland New Zealand

Traveling to New Zealand is made easier by online booking services. Cheaperthanhotels NZ makes it easier to look for Auckland Hotels, Wellington Hotels, and Christchurch Hotels. In fact it can provide listings of New Zealand hotels ranging from budget accommodations to luxury hotels. Here you can search and find prices on accommodation that are cheaper than hotels and offers last minute and year round discount accommodation throughout the country.

Photo Credits: Google Images

Antarctic Skies...

A rare and spectacular cloud formation appeared at the end of the polar night at Australia’s Mawson station in Antarctica. These so-called nacreous clouds were situated high in the stratosphere, some 20km above the ground, and indicate extremely cold temperatures in the rarefied atmosphere.

The weather balloon measured temperatures down to -87˚C in the vicinity of the cloud layer. That’s about as cold as the lowest temperatures ever recorded on the surface of the Earth. Amazingly, the winds at this height were blowing at nearly 230 kilometres per hour. Clouds this spectacular are seldom seen.

Our nearest star, the Sun, from a distance of 150,000,000 kilometres, provides us with light and warmth and from time to time a magnificent nighttime ‘laser light’ show. Well, not quite a laser light show, but something on a much grander scale. The Southern Aurora, Southern Lights or Aurora Australis are term used to describe the displays we see in out southern skies when the sun has had a particularly bad day!

Images from a frozen land...



Reference: This Tasmania

An Ancient Rock City

Are you someone who is fascinated by ancient cities? Here is one - Petra, Jordan

Petra, an ancient rock city in present-day Jordan, known to the Arabs as Wadi Musa because of the stream that flows through it, was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom until its defeat by the Romans in AD 106. It then became part of the Roman province of Arabia. After several centuries as a flourishing trade centre, it declined with the shifting of trade routes away from the city. It was captured by the Muslims in the 7th century.

Its ruins were rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss traveler Johann L. Burckhardt. Excavations since the mid-20th century have revealed many rock-cut monuments, including tombs with elaborate facades carved in the rose, crimson, and purple sandstone of the surrounding hills.

A narrow winding pass between towering walls leads to the open plain upon which stood the ancient city, while the plain is surrounded by hills in which tombs have been carved in the pink sandstone. Throughout Petra every available rock surface has been worked into a vertical face and in many cases sculptured into the façade of a temple, shrine, palace, or dwelling. The site includes some 800 structures, the best known of which is the Khazneh el-Farun (or so-called Pharoah's Treasury), a mausoleum, monument, or temple with a two-story facade and Hellenistic split pediment.

Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Photo Credits: Google Images

Antartica: The White Desert (A Unique Experience)

Some men are excited by isolation and are fascinated by the wide expanse of snow covered land. That is why some men are fascinated by Antarctica, the seventh continent, dubbed as the White Desert. It is a landscape unlike anywhere else on the planet ­ so rarely visited, yet utterly beautiful.

White Desert is also a company, in fact the only company in the World that can take you into the interior of Antarctica in luxury and comfort. Wow! Never thought there is one travel offer like this. Anyway, if your trip is not lazing around in sparkling turquoise-colored warm beaches, maybe you will be interested in what White Desert can offer. It is a luxurious and highly ecological camp that offers not only superb food, but also breathtaking views and adrenalin pumping activities like kite-skiing over frozen horizon, climbing icy caves and virgin summits. But wait - the price? is a whooping 24,000 Euros/person. (Ugh!)

Reference: White Desert.com

What Inspires A Visit To Spain?

What inspires a visit to Spain? Take a look at 4 of its most visited cities…

Madrid is the capital of Spain, and its largest city. The one thing that is impressive about this city is that it has been able to preserve old world charm by maintaining its artistic heritage (the legacy of centuries of fascinating history), and blending them with the new urban infrastructures to become one of the world’s most vibrant modern cities and a popular travelers’ destination. It is also likely to be most people's starting point for a Spanish vacation (the other likely starting point being Barcelona).

Some of the famous landmarks:

Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Plaza de Oriente, the Opera House and the modern Almudena Cathedral. This ensemble of monuments is completed by the Puerta del Sol, and the "Paseo del Arte", not forgetting the Bank of Spain building, the Palacio de las Telecomunicaciones (currently home to the Spanish Post Office) and the Cibeles and Neptuno fountains.

Visitors can also partake of gourmet experiences and exotic rituals that Spain is famous for, like "Going for tapas" which is an essential part of life in Spain. Tapas are little dishes of food that you have with a drink (beer, wine...). Another is Bullfighting which is certainly one of the best known Spanish popular customs.

To be able to truly enjoy Madrid, one should find an accommodation that is conveniently located and easily accessible. Check this online reservation service provider which can provide a good listing of (Spain) hotels that will suit anyone’s budget.

Sagrada Familia

Barcelona, on the other hand is the capital of Catalonia, and Spain’s second largest city. It is most famous for the architecture of Antonio Gaudi, whose building are scattered all around the centre of the city. However the most impressive of Gaudi´s works is arguably the Sagrada Familia, the huge, still unfinished temple. In addition the city has beautiful urban beaches, marinas, and seafront golf courses.

Aside from Madrid and Barcelona, there are two other cities worth visiting – Alicante and Benidorm.

La Explanada is the largest and most beautiful park in Alicante and its most visited site too. It is located just next to the sea promenade and is a very nice place for walking or enjoying the coastline view. There is another important tourist attraction, the Castillo de Santa Barbara (a castle built by the Arabs). Benidorm is famous for its Peacock Island and Playa Poniente.

La Explanada

To find good Barcelona hotels, Alicante hotels, and Benidorm hotels - check the site of this online reservations services for good deals. It offers last minute and year round accommodation at hotels, apartments and hostels in Spain at prices generally less than direct, with free inclusions.

Credits: Google Images