The first thing you will see on the exit doors of the station w...]]> Most people would arrive in Amsterdam via the central train station, either from a train from Schipol airport, other European destinations or one of the many coaches that bring daily visitors from many of the North Sea Ferries.

The first thing you will see on the exit doors of the station will be the now famous Amsterdam trams, boat tours a bit further on and to the right, a cycle park that must contain a half a million bikes. Three things associated with Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is in the process of building an underground train system to make travelling around the city even easier. This does mean that that on main streets and in front of the central station, building is in process, which spoils some of the first impressions at this point, but in a few years time when it is finished I am sure it will be worth it.

Carrying on up the main street from the station you will arrive at the Dam. Many years ago, it used to hold ships that came directly up the canals to trade with the city. But now it is more like a city square with the town hall and Madame Tussaud’s on one side and a the main city statue on the other. In front of the town hall you will often see street entertainers and if you wish to see the city on a horse and cart, this is the starting place for the tours. The dam seems to be a magnet for people during the summer months especially in the early evening. During the winter months an ice rink is built just in front of the town hall.

The dam is also a turning point for tourists, if you turn left you can start exploring the canal system, turn right and you can walk to Anne Frank’s house or if you continue on you will eventually come to the flower market next to the clock tower.

Anne Franks

If I had to select one place to visit whilst in Amsterdam it would be Anne Franks house. Her story has been well documented in her books and the films that have recreated her life’s story during the Second World War. However being in the house, where she and her family hid from the Nazi’s is quite an experience. A lot of the house is the same as it was then, one room still has here writing on the walls and is a grim reminder of the horrors of that time apposed on the Jews. Because the attic room is pretty much as it was, there are steep steps; those in a wheelchair are unlikely to see the entire house.

Flower Market

During certain months of the year this is a colourful spectacle, with what appears every type of tulip and bulb available. The shops are actually boats or floating platforms on the canal, which you can clearly see on the other side of the canal but au you walk the market would just assume they were normal shops.

The Canal System

It doesn’t matter where you walk in Amsterdam you going to be near a canal, but in my opinion you don’t see how pretty the canals are until you have walked 15 minutes or so away from the central station. Here you will have countless opportunities to take photos of small bridges all with cycles chained to them over narrow pretty canals. As well as the canal boat tours at the central station you will come across some more tours boats along the system but beware of the canal bus. You will see bus stops for the canal bus, but you cannot buy a ticket on board you must prepay your ticket at their main depot for the day.

Museums

Most of the art museums are together in the museum quarter. Unless you like walking it is probably a bit far on foot from the station, so a tram may be the order of the day. The canal bus that I mentioned earlier also does a canal bus ticket to take you there via the canals. The Rijksmuseum and Van Gough Museums and others have some of the world’s most famous paintings in from artists such as Monet, Rembrandt and Van Gough who are all Ditch Masters. Try and pre-book your tickets online, as it is hit and miss whether you will get in just by arriving.

You can’t really talk about Amsterdam and not mention some of the other aspects it is famous for and that is its tolerance to sex and low class drugs.

Red Light District

This is the only red light district I have walked through so I can’t compare it to anywhere else except to say it isn’t as sleazy as I thought it would be. You see normal people just going to work, elderly people carrying their shopping, businessmen and women coming in and out of the offices nearby. I am sure this place comes alive at night but during the day, it is more peaceful than I thought it would be. There are tours that will take you and around 30 other visitors around the area and explain the history of the district. In the tours you will see people from all ages including children. The sex shops have everything they sell in the window and seem to be frequented by groups of girls on their hen night having a laugh rather than sleazy men in raincoats. I think only those with extreme views would find this area offensive and if so stay away as it confined to one area of the city and you would not know it was there should you choose not to.

Coffer Shops.

This is where it is legal to buy certain grown substances to be consumed in the area known as a coffee shop. If you want to know where they are, just follow the smell.

It is illegal to buy any drugs on the street though.

I have been to Amsterdam many times now, mainly because of the relaxed atmosphere of the city and its street caf

At least twice each night durin...]]> Disneyland always has something entertaining and hold special entertainment nightly during the peak season as well as weekend entertainment during the off-season. Disneyland usually saves special entertainment for occasions like the 4th of July and Christmas.

At least twice each night during the peak season and on weekends during the off-season Disneyland holds a show called Fantasmic.
It takes place on Tom Sawyer’s Island, and features many characters as well as music and fireworks. I would recommend getting tickets for this well in advance so you can get the best seats possible. Bear in mind that free seating is also available and is included in your Disneyland park admission price.

A show that should not be missed is the musical Snow White which is held in the Fantasyland Theater. If your a Snow White Fan I highly recommend it. Snow White is held several times throughout the day so reservations should not be necessary.

Disneyland holds a parade twice each day called Parade of Dreams which features large colorful floats holding the Disneyland Characters. The parade stops three times a day to do a choreographed show, and most of the Disney Characters are portrayed in the Parade of Dreams.

These are just a few of the shows that are available at Disneyland. Entertainment is always non stop and everyday usually calls for something new. One entertainment that you know will always be at Disneyland And that is their firework shows. The fireworks take place each night just before the park closes for the evening.

If the fireworks are too late for you there is a fairly good chance you will see them from a hotel window or balcony. The absolute best spot for the greatest effect is right in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. I absolutely recommend the fireworks on Fourth of July as they are like no other I have ever seen, they are out of this world.

If you are looking for more information or would like to find something specific about the entertainment at Disneyland, visit
the website, ask the travel agent you booked with or even call the park as they are always willing to offer assistance. It is a good idea to ask about special events during specific months, so you can determine which one is more to your liking and will suit your travel plans.

Although most the entertainment is provided free of charge and is part of your admission price it is important to make sure there isn’t a fee as some events do have special seating, or priority seating that requires a fee. I would check the website or call the park just to be sure.

For more information about planning your Disneyland Vacation visit

http://www.just–believe.com/ebook/disney/index.html today

Located in the islands of Micronesia, Guam...]]> Perhaps every mainland American’s dream vacation is to visit the Islands of Hawaii. Who wouldn’t want to see the beautiful sights of this American paradise? But there is another American island that few people know of. That is the Island of Guam.

Located in the islands of Micronesia, Guam is tucked between Asia and Hawaii in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is a tiny island-only 32 miles long and 8 miles wide. You could drive the whole perimeter of the island in about two hours. Just like Hawaii, Guam is surrounded by coral reefs and gorgeous white beaches. Lush rainforests boast colorful flowers and dense vegetation. Beautiful waterfalls are around every corner. The water in the ocean surrounding the island is crystal clear and you can easily spot colorful fish darting among the coral. The climate on Guam is typical of paradise-the temperature hovers around 80 degrees year-round.

Guam is an American territory, so there is no need to worry about currency exchange or language barriers. One thing you won’t find on Guam, however, is a myriad of American tourists. It is a popular resort location of Southern Asia, but somewhat unknown to Americans. When you arrive on Guam you feel as if you have entered another country, without the hassles of changing your money or dealing with language translation. It really looks like Hawaii, but with an Asian flair. Everywhere you look you will see Asian touches, specifically catered to the Japanese who frequent the beachside resorts. You quickly forget that you are still on American soil!

The native people of Guam are the Chamorro people, who have their own culture and language. One fun thing to do in Guam is to explore the culture of the Chamorran people. Other nationalities include Filipino, Pacific Islanders, Chinese, Japanese, Europeans and many other Asian nationalities. It is a truly racially and culturally diverse island.

One of the most striking attributes of the people of Guam is their friendliness. Nowhere will you find a more hospitable people. The reason for that is obvious as you tour the island. The only industry on Guam is tourism. They do not have factories or agriculture. They base their entire economy on making tourists comfortable. Hafa Adai is the local greeting and you will hear it wherever you go.

Hotel accommodations are second-to-non on Guam, but be prepared to pay for them. There are not cheap hotels on this island. Along the Western beach is a strip of gorgeous luxury resorts filled with every amenity you can imagine. Most of these resorts have beachfront property with their own private beaches for guests. Or, if you prefer, you can skip the salt water and take advantage of the pool or water park that the hotel owns.

Don’t be surprised if you are witness to a wedding or two during your stay on Guam. Guam is like the Las Vegas of Micronesia when it comes to weddings. Many Asian couples come to Guam to be married in a beachfront chapel. In fact, most of the resorts have a chapel to be used for this purpose.

What is there to do on Guam? Well, one day of your visit should be spent simply driving the perimeter of the island. This serves two purposes. First, it will allow you to get your bearings on the island and second it will give you an appreciation for the vast cultural variety on the island. Be sure you stop at a few waterfalls on this tour. Plan at least two days to spend on water activities. Snorkeling, scuba diving, submarine tours, boat rental and swimming are just some of the activities you can do on the water. One thing you should not bring to Guam, however, is your surfboard. The waves on the island are not large enough for surfing. One interesting cultural attraction on Guam is the Chamorro village. Located along the beachfront, this area provides a place for local Chamorro artists and chefs to pedal their wares. This is a great place to sample the local cuisine. Also, if you enjoy history, plan to spend a day touring the World War II monuments and memorials. Make sure you catch a sunset on the beach during your stay!

The best time of year to visit Guam is during the dry season, which runs from January until May. The island is composed of tropical rainforests and averages around 80 inches of rain a year, so keep that in mind if you plan a trip in the rainy season.

Guam is truly an undiscovered paradise to the American tourist. The island will provide you with a taste of Asia with a touch of home. When planning your next dream vacation, keep this tiny gem in mind!

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Vacations

There were wild monkeys in the trees. We never saw monkeys ouside of a park. But here, you could watch them.

There were large ...]]> While staying in Villahermosa, we frequently went to La Venta to see the giant Olmec heads and wildlife there. (I’ll get to the airstream story in a minute.)

There were wild monkeys in the trees. We never saw monkeys ouside of a park. But here, you could watch them.

There were large termite nests on some of the trees. These had tunnels build on the trunk of the tree and then along the ground. If you broke open one of these tunnels, you could watch the termites scurrying around and then repairing the tunnel.

Another insect that was fascinating was the leaf cutter ants. These tiny creatures could completely strip a tree of leaves in a night. They took them back to their nests to grow a fungus on them. They then dined on the fungus.

Following a trail of these once I was amazed to find that the opening of the hole was large enough to roll a golf ball into. Quite a change from the ant nests I was used to seeing back home.

There were also many butterflies and birds to watch.

On one trip, we were surprised to find a group of about 30 Airstream trailers with Americans sitting in lawn chairs in front of them. One couple called us over and had us sit down and visit with them.

While enjoying a cold soft drink that they offered us, they told us the story of the Airstream Maelstrom.

One of their group had pulled into a Pemex station. He had forgotten to turn off the pilot light to the oven in the Airstream.

The Pemex gas stations (the only brand available) commonly had enough fuel spilled on the ground to make it slippery to walk. You could smell them a mile away.

It was easy to understand why there was so much fuel around. The hoses were often substandard with the nozzles not shutting off automatically. Also, the drivers would rock their cars back and forth to jostle air bubbles out of the gas tanks and then put the last little bit in. They would often put in just a little too much.

Unfortunately for this gentleman, his pilot light set the station on fire. He was able to pull his Airstream forward enough to put it out, but the station was a complete loss.

Even though he had purchased Sanborn insurance (your insurance from home does not work in Mexico), he was put in prison pending an investigation.
The insurance adjuster showed up and started working out a deal with the station owner and police. However, this man was getting scared that he would not get out. So, he agreed to give the station owner a check for $10,000.

The station owner came back to the jail the next morning claiming that he could not cash the check. So, he was going to press charges.

At this point the Airstream owner panicked and had his bank wire $10,000 down to the station owner.

The people hosting our visit said that he did not get his check back, so there was a possibility that he was actually out $20,000.

There are a few lessons to be learned here. First, extra care is needed on Mexican roads. The other drivers are erratic at best and there are frequent animals on the road.

Care at gas stations is especially needed as the fire danger there is much higher than you are used to.

Finally, Sanborn insurance is a highly reputable firm and they will take care of you. There was no reason for this gentleman to panic. However, if you have seen the inside of a Mexican jail, you probably would have a lot of sympathy for his anxiety.

Following our sympathetic hearing of this sad story, we had to reply with the story of 25 Mexican Babies.

The gentleman hosting us said, “She probably just coughed.”

Ron’s family has traveled to all the continents except
Antarctica for volunteer work and vacations. Read more about their unusual
experiences at I
Love Travel Vacations and I Love
Mexican Vacations.

Often preschool age children won't remember a lot about the vacation as they get older, and that is okay they live in the moment and we want to make those mome...]]> When you are going on a trip to get away from it all and you have a younger child you need to look at it from their point of view.

Often preschool age children won’t remember a lot about the vacation as they get older, and that is okay they live in the moment and we want to make those moments as happy as possible.

A couple years back I took my daughter on a trip to the mountains, we took in a lot of fun things and she had a great time. We even caught a live production of Dora the Explorer which I thought would be the highlight of the trip. Don’t get me wrong she loved it and talked about it for quite awhile.

She also enjoyed climbing in the mountains and seeing a waterfall, the chipmunks we saw, the zoo, and the tram we took up the mountain. We also played lots of car games so even the riding in the vehicle part of the trip was pleasant.

She loves to look at pictures from our vacation and talk about all the fun, but she said we don’t have pictures of the “funnest” parts of the trip. I took a look at all the pictures and thought what didn’t we get pictures of, I couldn’t remember anything special we had done that I didn’t have documented on film.

When I asked her what the best part was she said swimming in the pool with me, and staying in the hotel room watching television and reading books.

That got me thinking, we go swim frequently, we watch T.V., and we read a lot of books all the time, so what was so special about doing it on vacation.

I think it was several days of undivided attention, there were no phones or computers or meetings or chores to interrupt our fun. We just got to spend a ton of time together without anyone competing for my attention.

Don’t get me wrong, we still take in the fun sightseeing attractions when we are on a trip but I make sure we take time to spend a day or afternoon at the pool as well. Never do we try to pack so much fun in that it isn’t fun.

We also try to plan an overnight trip or two to a fairly close town that has a pool. We just go and relax, swim and spend time together. This is especially fun in the winter when we go to a hotel with an indoor pool.

So remember when planning your next getaway, it doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive to create lifelong memories your child will appreciate as they grow up.

Robin Reckard, co-founder of Jorbins.com Lifestyle Magazine, keeps busy producing, writing, and editing for the magazine as well as raising and enjoying her six year old daughter.

Also visit Jorbins Travel and Vacation and Travel Discussions for more great travel information.

Copyright 2006, Jorbins Inc. – Reprints of this article can be made as long as the article is in it’s entirety, unchanged, and the resource box with links and urls remain unchanged.