During your visit to the South Island you can watch and enjoy a lot of events and festivals . From the month of august to december you can enjoy the following during your tour. The events that are available during the month of August are the following. To have a detailed look at the festivals follow thw links that are provided near each festival
* Christchurch Arts Festival
* Montana Christchurch Winter Carnival
* Christchurch International Jazz Festival
* Conservation Week, Twizel
* Grand International Racing Carnival
* Ben Ohau Highland Games
* NZ Film Festival
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Best Beaches in Mauritius
Just north of the Tropic of Capricorn lies the island country of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It's actually a few islands; a main island and three other islands, and about 22 largely uninhabited islands. Mark Twain, who visited the island in 1896, so impressed by its beauty, said, "God first made Mauritius and from it, He created Paradise." Mauritius is striking because it once was a volcano. Extinct for some 100,000 years, you have peaks and rock strutting right down into the sea. And, as if icing on the wondrous landscape, a coral reef surrounds the islands.
If you're anxious to go, know that December to April are generally hot and humid. June to November are the cooler, drier months. A cyclone could arrive during the warm season.Here are some of the best beaches to spend tour holidays.
Tamarin Bay Beach - Mauritius
This beach of shallow water, lined in places by salt flats, is one of the least ‘maintained’ of Mauritius’s best beaches, but though the sand is a bit course by Mauritian standards and there atmosphere is a bit salty it’s still a lovely vista of coconut palms and clear water. Some of the parties most interested in this beach are surfers, the waves roll in with infrequency but in impressive sizes and shapes. Where the waves start on the reef they’re too quick to catch but there’s a bend in the bay which lines up with a break in the coral reef which slows them down enough to jump on before they run a long straight, clean line to the sand. Surfers would call the waves left barrels.
Nonetheless, Tamarin Bay Beach is worth a visit. Beyond the palm and casuarina trees lies some grand landscape. Close by you'll find the forest and mountains - well, part of the volcano that was here eons ago.
The best hotels to stay are
Blue Bay Beach
Blue Bay in Mauritus is situated on the South East coast of Mauritus. Blue Bay in Mauritus is nearby to a village named Mahebourg and also is close by to Port Louis International Airport. It is also a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing. Carry a camera to beach Blue Bay to capture all the wonderful and scenic moments there. At the center of the bay, in between the islet and the beaches, you will find ancient coral beds. These beautiful things feature a rich biological diversity. The bio-diversity of the corals makes this place a significant dot in the international scenario.
The seabed, at a depth of around 6 meters, is covered with corals. The density of these corals, of which 80% are alive, makes them unique. Studies undertaken have identified around 50 different species of corals and a lot more different fish species belonging to 25 families here. Rapid urbanization has affected the coral growth at Blue Bay and of late programs are being undertaken to protect them. Two hotels offer you a splendid stay at Blue Bay in Mauritius. These are the Shandrani Hotel and the Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel.
The best hotels to stay are
Belle Mare Beach
The Belle Mare Beach is one of the best beaches on the eastern side of island, having a stretch of 4-6 kms of white sand lined with Filao and coconut trees. It is a public beach with a deep lagoon circled by a coral reef. The turquoise waters of the lagoon are fringed with casuarina trees. You can indulge in a lot of activity of your choice throughout the day till late into the night. The coast with its white shimmering sands at Palamarand Trou d’Eau Douce stretches up to Grand Port a sleepy little village near the sea.
Belle Mare Beach is an excellent beach for camping out with friends and family; you can spend the entire day lazing about on the sands or in the sea. If this is not your cup of tea, then think of something else. Go over to the Belle Mare Water Park which is close by and enjoy the water sport of your choice. You could go wind surfing or wind-sailing.
The innumerable hotels, resorts, and lodging facilities in the area make Belle Mare a very good option for tourists. Some of the luxury hotels and resorts available nearby are the Le Saint Geran, the Belle Mare Plage, and the Beau Rivage. The eastern part of Mauritius is full of beautiful and breath-taking beaches. Since these parts receive more wind than other areas, the eastern coast is a hot favorite for surfers and tourists interested in sailing.
To know about complete list of hotels in Mauritius visit List of Hotels
If you're anxious to go, know that December to April are generally hot and humid. June to November are the cooler, drier months. A cyclone could arrive during the warm season.Here are some of the best beaches to spend tour holidays.
Tamarin Bay Beach - Mauritius
This beach of shallow water, lined in places by salt flats, is one of the least ‘maintained’ of Mauritius’s best beaches, but though the sand is a bit course by Mauritian standards and there atmosphere is a bit salty it’s still a lovely vista of coconut palms and clear water. Some of the parties most interested in this beach are surfers, the waves roll in with infrequency but in impressive sizes and shapes. Where the waves start on the reef they’re too quick to catch but there’s a bend in the bay which lines up with a break in the coral reef which slows them down enough to jump on before they run a long straight, clean line to the sand. Surfers would call the waves left barrels.
Nonetheless, Tamarin Bay Beach is worth a visit. Beyond the palm and casuarina trees lies some grand landscape. Close by you'll find the forest and mountains - well, part of the volcano that was here eons ago.
The best hotels to stay are
Blue Bay Beach
Blue Bay in Mauritus is situated on the South East coast of Mauritus. Blue Bay in Mauritus is nearby to a village named Mahebourg and also is close by to Port Louis International Airport. It is also a popular spot for windsurfing and sailing. Carry a camera to beach Blue Bay to capture all the wonderful and scenic moments there. At the center of the bay, in between the islet and the beaches, you will find ancient coral beds. These beautiful things feature a rich biological diversity. The bio-diversity of the corals makes this place a significant dot in the international scenario.
The seabed, at a depth of around 6 meters, is covered with corals. The density of these corals, of which 80% are alive, makes them unique. Studies undertaken have identified around 50 different species of corals and a lot more different fish species belonging to 25 families here. Rapid urbanization has affected the coral growth at Blue Bay and of late programs are being undertaken to protect them. Two hotels offer you a splendid stay at Blue Bay in Mauritius. These are the Shandrani Hotel and the Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel.
The best hotels to stay are
Belle Mare Beach
The Belle Mare Beach is one of the best beaches on the eastern side of island, having a stretch of 4-6 kms of white sand lined with Filao and coconut trees. It is a public beach with a deep lagoon circled by a coral reef. The turquoise waters of the lagoon are fringed with casuarina trees. You can indulge in a lot of activity of your choice throughout the day till late into the night. The coast with its white shimmering sands at Palamarand Trou d’Eau Douce stretches up to Grand Port a sleepy little village near the sea.
Belle Mare Beach is an excellent beach for camping out with friends and family; you can spend the entire day lazing about on the sands or in the sea. If this is not your cup of tea, then think of something else. Go over to the Belle Mare Water Park which is close by and enjoy the water sport of your choice. You could go wind surfing or wind-sailing.
The innumerable hotels, resorts, and lodging facilities in the area make Belle Mare a very good option for tourists. Some of the luxury hotels and resorts available nearby are the Le Saint Geran, the Belle Mare Plage, and the Beau Rivage. The eastern part of Mauritius is full of beautiful and breath-taking beaches. Since these parts receive more wind than other areas, the eastern coast is a hot favorite for surfers and tourists interested in sailing.
To know about complete list of hotels in Mauritius visit List of Hotels
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Kyoto - Temple and Historical Structures
Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today. Some of the shrines and temples to visit in Kyoto are the following.
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site. Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water. It separated from the Hossō school in 1965.
The main hall has a veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived. The practice is now prohibited.
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. Visitors to the temple collect the water, which is believed to have therapeutic properties, from the waterfall. It is said that drinking the water of the three streams confers wisdom, health, and longevity. However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two — if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.
The temple complex includes several other shrines, among them the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Ōkuninushi, a god of love and "good matches". Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 18 meters apart, which lonely visitors attempt to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone with their eyes closed implies that the pilgrim will find love, or true love. One can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that a go-between will be needed. The person's romantic interest can assist them as well.
Toji Temple
Its a Buddhist temple established in 796 AD and named Kyo-o-gokoku-ji. It was built to guard the city. Its name means East Temple and once it had a partner Suji(West Temple). They stood alongside the Rashomon, the gate to the Heian capital. The most interesting thing about Toji is the five storied pagoda which is 57m high. It is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. The present pagoda was built by the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu in 1644. Toji is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO world heritage sites. You can see avariety of Buddhist sculptures. Inside the temple, the images of the Four Buddhas and their followers, the eight great Bosatsu, are found. Taking pictures inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
There is a popular antiques market held at Toji on the 21st of every month until around 4:30, and a smaller one on the first Sunday of the month.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari. It is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. The mountain in which the shrine is placed is also named Inari, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines.
Because Inari is the god of business, each of the Torii is donated by a Japanese business. Merchants and manufacturers worship Inari for wealth. Donated torii lining footpaths are part of the scenic view. It has as many as 40,000 sub-shrines throughout Japan. If possible, visit Furshimi Inari near dusk — you'll be much more likely to wander alone through the tunnels of torii in the quiet woods, which is a magical experience as daylight fades.
Foxes (kitsune), regarded as the messengers, are often found in Inari shrines. One attribute is a key (for the rice granary) in their mouths. The shrine draws several million worshipers over the Japanese New Year. The shrine is a three-minute walk from JR Nara Line Inari Station, 10 minutes from Kyoto Station. It is a five-minute walk from Keihan Electric RailwayMain Line Fushimi-Inari station.
Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site. Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water. It separated from the Hossō school in 1965.
The main hall has a veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived. The practice is now prohibited.
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. Visitors to the temple collect the water, which is believed to have therapeutic properties, from the waterfall. It is said that drinking the water of the three streams confers wisdom, health, and longevity. However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two — if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.
The temple complex includes several other shrines, among them the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Ōkuninushi, a god of love and "good matches". Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 18 meters apart, which lonely visitors attempt to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone with their eyes closed implies that the pilgrim will find love, or true love. One can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that a go-between will be needed. The person's romantic interest can assist them as well.
Toji Temple
Its a Buddhist temple established in 796 AD and named Kyo-o-gokoku-ji. It was built to guard the city. Its name means East Temple and once it had a partner Suji(West Temple). They stood alongside the Rashomon, the gate to the Heian capital. The most interesting thing about Toji is the five storied pagoda which is 57m high. It is the tallest wooden tower in Japan. The present pagoda was built by the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu in 1644. Toji is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO world heritage sites. You can see avariety of Buddhist sculptures. Inside the temple, the images of the Four Buddhas and their followers, the eight great Bosatsu, are found. Taking pictures inside the temple is strictly prohibited.
There is a popular antiques market held at Toji on the 21st of every month until around 4:30, and a smaller one on the first Sunday of the month.
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari. It is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. The mountain in which the shrine is placed is also named Inari, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines.
Because Inari is the god of business, each of the Torii is donated by a Japanese business. Merchants and manufacturers worship Inari for wealth. Donated torii lining footpaths are part of the scenic view. It has as many as 40,000 sub-shrines throughout Japan. If possible, visit Furshimi Inari near dusk — you'll be much more likely to wander alone through the tunnels of torii in the quiet woods, which is a magical experience as daylight fades.
Foxes (kitsune), regarded as the messengers, are often found in Inari shrines. One attribute is a key (for the rice granary) in their mouths. The shrine draws several million worshipers over the Japanese New Year. The shrine is a three-minute walk from JR Nara Line Inari Station, 10 minutes from Kyoto Station. It is a five-minute walk from Keihan Electric RailwayMain Line Fushimi-Inari station.
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