Cavness Vacation Packages

Fat Chance.

Of course, many poolside bars require your beverage be in a plastic cup – so if you insist on ordering a martini under these conditions, you get what you deserve.

But still, why does ordering a Martini in the tropics produce such bewilderment and disdain?

“Sheeze dude, you’re on vacation!”

“Yes I am, my good man, and I’d love a Martini – do you by chance have Tanquary gin on hand?” This inquiry generally followed by a long pause and a blank stare.

As if being on vacation requires consuming some sweet, syrupy, colorful concoction served on ice with speared fruit and a useless little paper umbrella sticking out the top – I’m on vacation, I haven’t lost my mind.

But alas, if the bartender has even heard of vermouth, let alone have it in stock, they don’t know how to use it.

We are talking about a mist of vermouth; atoms co-mingling with the gin, ever so lightly. Instead we get measurable quantities splashing through and cutting the gin into some bittersweet creation only vaguely resembling a Martini.

It makes one want to give up and order a nice, dry Chardonnay instead…

But that’s another story.

Tom lives in San Francisco and works as a sound engineer, freelance writer, and web publisher. He enjoys traveling, nature, reading, photography, and music. Read more stories by Tom at http://www.touristtravel.com/travel_stories.htm

Bryce Canyon is not a canyon. It is the spectacular edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, a place where intricately carved towers and archways of stone shimmer in a dazzling array of colour under the bright sun.

The state of Utah in the United States is home to many beautiful National Parks, and Bryce Canyon National Park ranks as one of the most magnificent and awe inspiring.

15 million years ago the earth in this region began to shift, forming a series of plateaus. The Paunsaugunt is an extensive plateau, with the Paria River gradually eroding away the edge to form Bryce Canyon.

The rock in Bryce Canyon is composed of layer after layer of sediment deposits, deposited millions of years ago when the area was at the bottom of a lake. Now the Paria River has exposed the layers, allowing a detailed history of the lake to be determined.

The Park itself was established in 1924, and was named after an early settler in the area, Ebenezer Bryce. He emigrated from Scotland, married a local girl then moved southwards in stages, building sawmills as he went.

In the mid 1870s he reached the Paria River, where he and his family settled for a number of years. It was at this time that Bryce made his immortal comment about Bryce Canyon – he called it “one hell of a place to lose a cow”.

The area remained basically undiscovered by European tourists, the first guest houses only being constructed around the time when the park was officially established.

Luckily this has led to Bryce Canyon being an area of largely unspoiled beauty, as well as the enormous scientific value of the historic information trapped in its pinnacles and spires.

The canyon is by no means a stagnant place – the rim recedes by an average of about a foot every 50 years, and in this ever changing scene it is water that plays the most vital role in the shaping and eventual destruction of the magnificent scenery.

Because the rock was laid down in layers, there is a variation in the hardness of the rock formed. When water runoff trickles across the rock, some areas erode rapidly whereas others hold firm.

This variation in erosion speed causes the formation of pinnacles, or “hoodoos” of stable rock. In some places the water seeps down through cracks and eats out holes beneath the surface. When the side rock erodes away, an archway is left behind.

Eventually the arch collapses, leaving two more pillars to join the rest. The ever changing vista of colours, spires, walls and archways is spectacular at any season, and the park is open all year round.

In the warmer months there are plenty of trails for the visitor to explore, ranging from easy strolls to hard hikes. Some of the best trails are located in the Bryce Amphitheatre, located near the entry to the park.

Here you can wander through the Queen’s Garden, or gaze up at Queen Victoria herself surveying the ‘flowers’ in her garden. Some of the most awe inspiring lookouts are situated in this area, including Sunset Point and Inspiration Point – a must for any visitor.

Walkers can also follow the Fairyland, Riggs Spring and Under-the-Rim trails, which are longer, but allow more opportunities to see the different elements of the park at close quarters.

Summer months can cause temperatures in the base of the canyon to soar, so it is very important to be prepared for the heat, and carry plenty of water.

In winter the roads are opened between snowfalls, allowing a totally different perspective of the park. Snow capped pinnacles stand out sharply against the background of white snow and dark green trees. The air is also cleaner, allowing visitors to see great distances.

For the energetic, it is possible to cross-country ski in a number of areas in the park, and on some trails it is possible to go snowshoeing instead of hiking.

If you want a slightly different view of the park, it is possible to explore the park in a 1930 limousine. Alternatively, you can rent a horse on an hourly basis to trek some of the better trails.

There is plenty of interest to explore in the park, apart from the marvellous scenery of the ’silent city’, as the hoodoos are sometimes called. The park also contains a large variety of plants and wildlife, including meadows and forests.

Ground squirrels abound near the viewing areas, and their antics are almost enough to distract the visitor’s eyes from the scenery. On quiet mornings and evenings it is also possible to see deer, elk and antelope grazing on the meadows.

Some bears and mountain lions also enter the park occasionally, but are rarely seen by tourists.

Bryce Canyon is a hidden jewel, thoroughly deserving to be as well known as its southern neighbour, the Grand Canyon. Include it on your itinerary, and you definitely won’t be disappointed.

In fact, you may be completely overwhelmed by the fascinating and awe inspiring beauty of Bryce Canyon, just like almost every other visitor.

Copyright Felicity Walker 2005

Travelling the national parks in the US is one of the author’s favorite things to do. Check out http://www.travelusinfozone.com or http://www.travelusinfozone.com/bryce-canyon/ for more information.

Now here is a subject that is open to lots of controversy. Anyone attempting to put “a stake in the ground” on this subject must be really brave – or incredibly stupid. You may see some bias here – four of the five are in the west, and four of the five run at least partially along water, and two, are Interstate highways – the nemesis of civil travel; so you may already disagree without even looking at the list.

Everyone has their one or two favorite highways, but after traveling over 50,000 miles in the contiguous 48-states, this is our consensus of “the best of the best.” See if you agree.

#5 – Interstate-84, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon (80 miles) It is hard to imagine that an interstate highway runs through this magnificent stretch of scenery that was only recently designated a National Scenic Area. The gorge is the only cut through the Cascade mountains near sea level and the gorge varies in depth up to 4,000 feet. It forms part of the state line between the states of Oregon and Washington and features waterfalls (Multnomah Falls), scenic view points (Crown Point), Cascade Peaks (notably Mt. Hood) and the mighty Columbia River.
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Oregon/columbia/Columbia_River.htm

#4 – Going to the Sun Highway, Glacier Park, Montana (51 miles) There are many engineering marvels throughout the US highways, but none rivals “the Garden Wall” climb from Apgar, MT at Lake McDonald to the Continental Divide at the top of Logan Pass. The highway took eleven years to build and was completed in 1932. In fact, if your vehicle is over 20 feet (including bumpers – they are very exact) or over 8 feet wide (including mirrors), you won’t be driving that portion of the highway. The scenery is unparalleled everywhere you look, and the wildlife is still abundant. http://visitmt.com/tripplanner/wheretogo/glacier.htm

#3 – Interstate 70, Salina to Green River, Utah (100 miles) Now the first thing some of you will say is, “why not keep going?” and yes, the section from Green River through the Glenwood Canyon to Vail – and beyond – is also eye-popping, but you’ve got to stop somewhere on this marvelous highway. The section chosen winds through the red rock country, skimming the edge of several national parks, and provides the highway traveler with turn after turn of vistas that are like watching a movie. http://www.rockymountainroads.com/i-070b_ut.html

#2 – Highway 1, “The Overseas Highway”, “The Keys,”Florida (120 miles) Where life still moves slowly on a two-lane road with 42 bridges and the bluest water in the states, the Florida Keys are the closest thing we have to the Caribbean. The Keys are composed of five areas, each boasting its own unique contribution to the area: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys, and finally Key West. Only in Key West do they celebrate sunset every night with a party at the dock, and the sound of steel drums permeates the air. Here, everything having to do with water is available. Whether it is fishing, snorkeling/diving, kayaking, or simply bobbing around in the water, you’ll find what you want.
http://www.fla-keys.com/

#1 – Highway 1, Pacific Coast Highway, California (a little over 100 miles) Don’t let the distance deceive you – this is a three hour-plus trip. Unless you have no fear of heights, start in the south and go north – from Morro Bay to Carmel. Stop frequently to gawk. Feel the ocean wind and spray in your face. See the most incredible views this country has to offer. If you get tired of the outdoor beauty, stop at the Hearst Castle and take in the man-made beauty that William Randolph Hearst imported mostly from Europe for his castle by the sea. Gas up and grab some snacks before you leave, both are scarce along the way, but be sure to save room for lunch or dinner once you reach Big Sur or Carmel. Both have excellent choices and incomparable local ambiance.
http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2301/index.html

So there you have it – the experience of seasoned road warriors. One of the great things about road trips is the opportunity to explore new roads and towns, go places you’ve often been intrigued by in the Sunday paper. Sometime in your life, you have to find time to take a really long road trip. Thousands of miles, months of time; there is nothing like it. Only then will you truly experience being a kid again. We’ll await your list.

Phil and Carol White decided to live their road trip dreams when they retired, while they still had their health, stamina and sense of humor. All along the way people kept saying, “Oh, we’d love to do what you are doing, but what did you do about ” and the list would begin. When we returned home, we did some research and found that they was really no “handbook” to help people plan that dream trip – that long trip in the back of your mind. So we wrote Live Your Road Trip Dream so that you too could live your dreams.

Travel preparation is often conducted as a last minute thought by many flying away for their holidays. All too often we hear stories of people who have forgotten to take their passport to the airport and end up missing their flight.

Preparation need not be a tedious task every time you take a holiday, if you come up with a plan that can be followed every time you go on a trip. If you are not careful though, this list can extend half way down your drive. In reality you only need certain essential items to make sure your trip goes ahead and a few precautions while you are away.

Lets look at the essential. Passport, money, flight ticket, accommodation booking reference and any medication you may be taking. Those few items will ensure that you are able to actually go on your trip.

Precautions you may want to consider are related to the “what if” scenarios. Here are a few to consider. Losing your passport, credit cards, money or drivers license can turn the best holiday into a nightmare. Some one off preparations can save you a potential big headache. Make a separate note of your credit cards, 24-hour telephone cancellation number, your passport number, travellers’ cheque numbers and driving license number.

Now give these details to a trusted family member or friend for safe keeping while you are away. It is much easier to get replacements if you actually know your document numbers. Now if your were to experience an unfortunate event while away, all you would need to do is give your relative or friend a call (I am guessing you know their number right) and you have access to all your details. Which would not be the case if you had them stolen from you.

So making sure you have your essentials before leaving for the airport and noting a few numbers down before you go away can take a lot of the “must remember and what if stress” away from you.

Creating a small list covering the points discussed is like having your comfort cushion with you at all times. You will have already prepared for the most common types of problems faced by some travellers.

About The Author.

Stephen Thomas is a website business developer with many years experience of the online travel market. The latest development project was the “Airport Parking Guide” ( http://www.airport-parking-guide.co.uk), where customers can access a resource area that has free travel planning software and airport guides available for download.

To travel from Arusha to Dar es Salaam is easiest by air, however, this will cost about US$200 per person. The cheapest alternative is to travel by bus, which is never advised by tour operators. However, it need not be a nightmare as there are some good companies operating in Tanzania.

The most well known bus company must be the Scandinavia Express. They operate probably the best, safest and most comfortable transport between the two cities; it is, of course, the most expensive private bus option – at US$25 per person – and to book in advance is essential. In Arusha the offices for Scandinavia have moved to Kilembero Market – which is close to the Shoprite supermarket. Scandinavia have recently been in huge debt and have had some of their buses seized by the police; this has made the headlines in the East African news papers. It has also made booking in Advance more essential as the fleet is depleted.

The ‘Dar Express’ bus service comes a close second to Scandinavia or maybe an equal first place. They have different classes of busses and when at the booking Office – which is situated close to the Kimahama Bookshop [about 500m up hill from the Arusha Stadium] – it is essential to say you want the first class bus which should cost about US$18 per person. Dar Express are, without doubt, my favourite company and I would recommend this company above all others. However, some of the coaches do not have a toilet – although this may in fact be a blessing – as you travel in the African heat [and especially if you are sat toward the rear of the bus] a toilet may not seem such a luxury after most of the passengers have taken advantage of the service. The smell can become quite overpowering and the journey is a long one – about ten hours.

If you opt for the cheaper end of the market, most busses leave from the Bus Station close to the ‘Stadium’. Buffalo seem to be a favourite but they travel too fast. Speed is not a good thing as in places the road is single carriageway, it winds and there are hills; slowly slowly is the best way to ensure you get from Arusha to Dar es Salaam alive.

I would recommend either Fresh Coach or Amazon Coach – the ticket price must be negotiated and do not pay more than US$10 per person. The last of each of these coaches leaves Arusha Bus Station at 8 am sharp. Tickets are usually sold by freelance workers and as the commission is good – the more they charge the more pay they take home – competition is fierce. If you are a westerner then you will be targeted and you will be surrounded by enthusiastic ticker touts. This experience is not for the faint hearted. Hang onto your luggage and watch out [as you would as a tourist anywhere in the world] for pickpockets.

Fresh coach and Amazon travel to Dar es Salaam at a more leisurely pace and they are safer than the full steam ahead express buses.

If you want to leave Arusha and travel by bus to make the ferry crossing to Zanzibar in a single day – I would suggest leaving Arusha around 6 am to ensure you are in Dar es Salaam by 2pm. That gives you a good couple of hours to get from the Bus Station into town and to the ferry, buy your ticket.

The site http://www.tanzania-info.co.uk has full details and timetables for Zanzibar Ferries, flights and Buses in Tanzania – and http://www.betheladventure.co.uk has safari information. Use responsible tourism to make a difference to the countries and peoples you visit.

Adventure, uncertainty and speculation are always associated with traveling and more so when the destination chosen for visit is itself dangerous. Visiting the routine places that provides one with a great change of location and views may be appealing to some but to those seeking more of adventure and uncertainty, criteria for choosing destinations are totally different. There is a craving for excitement beyond ordinary and a lust to experience the increased flow of adrenalin in the body of the traveler. Even the thought of going to such places can make many of us nervous but for the adventurous this excitement is the motive behind choosing such risky destinations.

Moving away from one’s homeland and going to unfamiliar places in itself can be risky. At the hometown one is familiar with the customs, traditions, law and order of the ruling government and also the common dangers prevalent in one’s community. But at a foreign land things are different and ignorance about the communal system and laws predominant in there country can lead a person in hazardous situations. To make the situation worse once anyone is in problem there is almost none in a foreign land to help the person trapped in unsafe circumstances. Hence the best rescue from such situations is always to prepare before hand for all the dangers that may arise in due course of traveling. One must gather entire before hand information about the place where he is traveling, the nature of hazards possible like whether the place is prone to political instability, frequent communal riots or about any disease outbreak in that area.

Apart from traveling for joy and adventure many people need to travel to dangerous destinations as a part of their business trip. Many a times people at high-profile jobs need to travel to not so secure places, but very less can be done about this as the nature of their job demands such traveling. Employees need to travel long distances to overview and manage the situation at places that are remote from the main working area of the company. Many organizations also provide rating for the degree of threat involved at a particular place based on the political factors, crime rate, terrorism, communal volatility and other similar dangers. Travelers to such destinations practice extra alertness, precaution and prudence.

Knowing about the potential risks of the place helps a traveler take precautionary measures beforehand. The best way to avoid conflicts is to stay away form them. One should never indulge in any controversies in a foreign land specially when they relate to any political issues and occur because of rivalry between local leaders. One should always stay away from local demonstration groups formed for protest against any current issues. Apart from political security prevention against diseases at unknown destinations is equally significant. Having carefully planned meal and avoiding raw food helps greatly in preventing illness. Areas with inadequate hygiene and sanitation should always be avoided as an eating-place. Only water that has been properly treated with chlorine and other disinfectants should be consumed and to be on safer side bottled water is highly recommended. Keeping certain guidelines in mind one can definitely make even the dangerous destinations a cool place to travel.

Mansi aggarwal writes about. dangerous travel Learn more at http://www.dangerousdestinations.com