Philippines Barrio Fiesta in London

Every year, the Filipino community in London celebrates the Philippines Barrio Fiesta or Philippine town Festival in London and this year it will be held on July 18 to 19 at Lampton Park in Hounslow, London.

This year is a very special one as it marks the 25th year anniversary of the said celebration in London and it’s expected to also be the biggest Barrio Fiesta yet where many Filipinos and Brits would come to attend and they are expecting at least 80,000 people to come and celebrate this special celebration.

The Philippines Barrio Fiesta would be like any other barrio fiestas in the Philippines where there are lots of local foods being served to just about anybody who would come and celebrate with them. Houses are usually open to everyone to come and eat their served foods to celebrate their town fiesta. If you come and celebrate at Lampton Park this July 18 to 19, expect lots of pork barbecues as well as some delicious Filipino dishes such as adobo (chicken or pork in soy sauce), kare-kare (curry) and pancit (noodles).

It’s a great time for Filipinos to get together and leave behind their busy life in Europe and just have a time to experience the environment as if they are just back in the Philippines with their friends and loved ones. You can’t really compare the way Filipinos celebrate as it’s filled with sharing and laughter.

Also, make sure you try some of Filipinos dried foods such as tuyo “dry fish” which is a favorite by the local Filipinos especially those that need to spend on a tight budget.

Arts and sports in Florence

The capital city of Tuscany has a lot to offer to the visitor. From art to history, Florence is a fascinating city. The artistic heritage of the city is impressive. You can find here works by Giotto, Andrea Pisano, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

The buildings in Florence are amazing: Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, monasteries and cloisters. The richness in art can cause the Stendhal syndrome for first time visitors.

If you are more an active type, why not try Calcio Storico (historic football)? It is a traditional sport seen as the forerunner of soccer but actually the calcio storico resembles rugby. Its origins are in the Middle Ages when noblemen were amusing themselves playing in impressive costumes. Nowadays a temporary arena is built in Piazza di Santa Croce and there are four teams: blue, white, red and green (coming from different quarters of Florence).

The restaurants in Florence base their meals on meat because the local cuisine is of peasant traditions. Try the antipasti crostini toscani, a ribollita soup and a bistecca alla fiorentina all served with olive oil which is produced in Tuscany.

Places to see in Florence:
Santa maria del Fiore Cathedral - the fourth biggest cathedral in Europe.
Casa di Dante - the house where Dante grew up and which was rebuilt in 1910 and became a museum to Dante.
Palazzo Piti is a Renaissance palace on the south bank of Arno river. The palace has a huge collection of paintings, jewelry and precious objects. In the 18th century the building was used as a power base by Napoleon and after that it was the royal palace of the united Italy.

The way we travel and tweet about it

The latest incident of an airline crashing into Hudson River has shown a couple of achievements – among them is how technology spreads news like wildfire. Aside from the obvious news that the pilots and the rest of the crew never had serious training for this incident, photos and updates regarding the passengers were circulating online via Twitter before any major news network picked up the news.

For those unfamiliar, Twitter is regarded as the next generation blogging platform. Instead of the usual blogs, Twitter will only allow you to post up to 140 characters. This form of blogging is called “micro-blogging” and the post could be implemented from practically everywhere especially from your mobile phone. Photos could also be posted as well to the same account directly from mobile phones.

Twitter is now being adopted by practically everyone especially well known personalities in certain industries and travel is not exempted. Visit three or four websites owned by travel industry personalities and be sure that one of them is already “Twittering”. You can follow their updates from your own Twitter account. From their tips you can get real time updates on travel deals, news about the travel industry or simply their reaction on certain travel news. The best part of Twitter is that you can also react to their posts and the author of the posts should be able to see them in real time as well.

Adopt the latest in blogging technology. Twitter and other micro-blogging tools will help you get in touch with as many people as possible which could greatly help your knowledge about the travel industry.

Watching whales and dolphins

In Whakatane, New Zealand, you can come and swim with the dolphins or watch the beautiful and gigantic whales. It’s a lot of fun and even kids would surely enjoy this amazing adventure. It surely is a kind of experience that you will never ever forget. Lots of tourists flock Whakatane just to have this experience. There are boat rides regularly that you can book so you can set sail with no worries.

Don’t forget to take pictures or home videos while you enjoy being in the company of the kind dolphins and friendly whales. If you don’t want to swim with the whales and you just want to see them, you can just stay in the boat and watch them go near the boat to greet you. Yes, these whales and dolphins don’t fear humans as they are well protected in Whakatane. You could even touch them or feed them as long as you are well supervised by experienced crewmembers.

Snorkel together with the dolphins. Lots of people fly from faraway places to Whakatane just to have this experience. Sure there are other places in the world that lets you swim with dolphins but none can compare to Whakatane. You can also meet their friendly whales such as Minke, Orca, Finn and Pilot whales.

Whales and dolphins may be the star but seals can also be seen during the duration of your trip. Ocean birds would also be flying on top of you, waiting for some food to nibble so make sure you bring some for these flying friends too.

Hello Philippines, Mabuhay!

The Philippines is made up of 7,107 beautiful islands and its capital is Manila that is located on Luzon Island. The Philippines is mostly a Catholic country but the lower region, Mindanao, is mostly a land for the Muslims.

There are lots of tourist attractions around the Philippines and one of their best tourist attractions is none other than the Boracay beach. It’s located in Panay Island in the Visayas and many tourists come here to enjoy the beach, party and bask in the sun while enjoying their super clear water and powdery white sand.

The Chocolate Hills in Bohol are really a must-see. Over 1,700 small hills are spread in a 20 square mile land and are covered with green grass that during the dry season, it turns brown thus it looks likes chocolate. You can try picturing out some Hershey’s Kisses spread over the beautiful landscape.

The Mayon Volcano is the perfect coned volcano in Luzon. No matter what angle you face it just looks like a perfect cone. The Taal Volcano in Tagaytay is also quite popular because it’s a volcano within a volcano or a volcanic island w/in a lake on an island w/in a lake on an island. If that gives you a headache, just visit it and see what that means.

The tropical climate in the Philippines lures lots of tourists especially during winter season. It’s usually warm in the Philippines and tourists just love that.

The secret of Lima

Lima is the capital of Peru and the centre of almost everything in the country. For that reason, it’s no wonder why the city have a good number of museums, churches and other historical structures that will surely entertain any tourist. The city even has an archeological site which proves the area has been inhabited as early as year 500.

But with all the structural and archeological finds in the city, there is a little known reason among seasoned travellers for visiting this beautiful city: Islas Palomino.

This beautiful island is accessible through Callao which is one of the ports of the city. A quick boat ride from this port will lead you to this enchanted and well protected island. Of course, Islas Palomino has a beautiful golden sanded beach but that’s not really the reason why this island stands out. This island will get you closer to sea lions, Guanay cormorants and other sea creatures. You can walk towards the sea lions and have a closer look on their activities. In fact, you are even allowed to go out and swim with the sea lions – an experience not allowed in other areas in the country.

Take time to visit this small but remarkable island of Lima. It will take you away from civilization and get you closer to nature. You don’t even have to spend too much since the island is very close from the port. A day in the island will ensure lasting memories of the city.

Spear-fishing in Sicily

Sicily is also known for fishing and they export sardines and tuna and Sicily has lots of fishing ports. To name just a few of its important ports: Messina, Mazara del Vallo or Augusta.

Sicily is really one of the best places to go for spear-fishing. It’s one of the most popular attractions of Sicily and many come here to go spear-fishing but spear-fishing is not for the amateur swimmers and divers. In Sicily, in order to spearfish you need to dive down and pursue these big fish such as the delicious tuna that’s the favourite creature to spearfish here. Unfortunately, with the growing interest in spearfishing and other forms of fishing, the fish population in Sicily is declining.

Spear-fishing is fun and can be very addictive but you must know that this is also a dangerous sport. Yeah, fishing is really exciting especially when there’s danger behind it but you got to be cautious as the danger here is definitely real. Barracudas abound and they can kill you if you’re not careful. Just as what they say, if you get to spear-fish successfully here, you definitely deserve your catch.

Macau - gambling paradise made in China

Macau is known to be the Asian version of Las Vegas. There are hotels and casinos everywhere! Many Asians come here to gamble and it’s more active at night than during the day time but of course, casinos never close so some casino gamblers stay in the casino for days without ever leaving in the hopes that they’d win big.

Of course Macau is not just a gambling paradise. A matter of fact, Macau was a very peaceful city decades ago and in just a few years everything around it had changed into this gambling paradise. Macau is still rich in different attractions that you’ll love. Make sure you travel around Macau by foot as that’s the best way to explore every inch of the place. You won’t really get lost here as it’s easy to find your way around.

There are lots of churches and temples around Macau as well as some old buildings. Make sure you check out the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara statue that is just next to the Sands Casino. It looks like a European statue despite resting in a Chinese land. Macau tower also offers you a fantastic view and sports so do check that out as well.

Just like any other Chinese city, in Macau you’d enjoy street foods too. They have exquisite taste and it’s fun to taste their delicacies here. You may not like all of them but for sure you’d find some you’d want. Also, Macau is just a ferry away from Hong Kong so if you want to see Hong Kong you won’t have difficulty going there at all and you can come back whenever you want to.

Larnaca holiday deals

You’ll not only enjoy their sunny skies of Larnaca but you’ll definitely love the beautiful sandy beaches and the deep sea that’s just perfect for diving (if you are a risk-taker) or just enjoy boating around. It is said to be a favourite destination for tourists or travellers who own yachts.

Enjoy the ocean view as you sip some coffee in the coffee shops near the beaches. Aside from that, Larnaca has several tourist attractions that are really worth checking out such as the ancient city ruins that you can still come and see today. Just so you know, Larnaca in the Old Testament of the Bible is known as Kition so it’s just great to come to this place and say you’ve been to Kition!

The Ancient Kition is still found in the north western side of Larnaca where some of its ruins are still featured. 5 temples from the 13th century BC are still visible and you can come and have your picture taking there.

The St. Lazarus Church from the 9th century is also very famous. Lazarus had lived in Ancient Kition and Lazarus is the one that was resurrected by Jesus Christ. He became a bishop of Kition as well. This church is said to be constructed on the empty grave where Lazarus was buried and was brought back to life.

There are many other tourist attractions in Larnaca that are both religious, cultural or relaxing. Just to make your holiday a perfect one.

Family holiday in Toulouse

Planning a trip with your family? Why not going to Toulouse in France? The place is believed to be the perfect holiday place for kids and adults alike. There are lots of great sites here that will surely make your kids enjoy and learn from at the same time. If you love to take pictures, check out the Canal du Midi which is really breath taking. Kids will enjoy the various adventures that await them in Toulouse while you could teach them how to appreciate and learn from its history.

The St. Sernin’s Basilica is well known for tourists and many come here just to check out this Romanesque church as well as to pray. Many devotees come here each year. It was constructed way back in the 12th century and up until now it enjoys its status being the striking building of Tolouse.

The main attraction in Tolouse is definitely the Capitole. You’d be impressed by its architectural design and pink color! Another cathedral that is frequented by tourists is the La Cathedrale Saint-Etienne that’s been built 5 centuries ago.

It’s best to travel Tolouse with tour guides so you could see everything that Tolouse, France has to offer. You’ll get entertaining, fun yet wholesome activities in Tolouse so you don’t need to worry about your kids.

Mexico struggles to attract tourists

The travel industry of Mexico would rather forget the year 2009. The country’s first challenge is on recession which led to massive job losses in many countries which has greatly affected travel. As a country that relies on tourism, it’s big blow to their economy if economic troubles prevented people to travel.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg as Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) began in to affect many locals in Mexico. This form of deadly flu began spreading to other countries affecting hundreds and killing a few people in the process. Some countries even issued a travel ban in Mexico to protect its citizens. This is considered worst compared to recession as this has become a fatal condition if the person is not healthy to deal with the deadly virus. Even though its neighbour and main customer (US) has lifted the ban as of May 15, tourists are still scared.

Reservations on resorts, hotels and other properties in Mexico dropped by 25% and the cities that were in the headlines during the outbreak experienced up to 40% drop in reservation.

The Mexican government has already addressed the problems related to this deadly virus. Resorts and hotels are already safe especially on popular beach destinations in the country. But even with the said preventive measures, some tourists are not convinced.

That is why a daring tourist will really enjoy Mexico since air transportation and reservation cost has dropped up to 50% when booked directly. Travel websites have also noted a drop in fees which is a perfect opportunity for an affordable vacation for seasoned travelers.

Travel Foundation: Make Travel Greener

Make Travel Greener is a campaign that was launched by the Travel Foundation and they aim that through this campaign they will be able to enlighten and educate up to 10,000 trade members to fully understand the green issues by end of 2009.

The Travel Greener campaign is just worth 30 minutes of your time. It’s a training and test session and several members of the Travel group had already signed up and they took the tests.

ABTA promises to promote the quiz to their members and will make it a part of their Accredited Travel Professional Programme where their agents could then be able to just download their certificates online.

The chief executive of Travel Foundatin, Ms. Sue Hurdle also said that “There are still a lot of people in our industry who do not know much about responsible travel. This is the biggest educational campaign we have ever launched. But it only takes a tea break to complete."

The foundation believes that this test will help the staff to respond to the questions of their customers about the environmental awareness that is rapidly growing today since the problem with global warming is on the rise and the effects is already felt.

It would be great to share this test to everyone you know and it should be passed around to as many companies and people as possible so that everybody would learn about responsible and ethical tourism.

Red Sea for divers

The Red Sea is one of the most known destinations in the world. The Red Sea is a 365-day destination as the weather here is perfect all the time. You’d enjoy the awesome beach with the shoreline going for several miles. The Red Sea is also known for its great coral reefs and they have one of few best reefs in the world!

The Red Sea is a premier diving destination and you can reach the Red Sea from Europe at a not-so-expensive rate that many Europeans usually choose the Red Sea for their vacations. The prices here are reasonable and its tropical climate lures more tourists. Several of the popular resorts here are packed with tourists such as the Sharm el Sheikh and the Hurghada and a lot of divers stay in these resorts. Marsa Alam is a bit far south and is the perfect resort for those who wants a bit of solitude and doesn’t want a jam-packed tourist resort but it is not as highly developed as the 2 most popular resorts but it’s worth it for those who just wants to relax and enjoy the beach and its reefs.

The Red Sea is indeed the best place for diving enthusiasts as you wouldn’t find any better variant of marine life than here. You would also feel great knowing that you’ve been to a place that was actually mentioned in the Bible where Moses is said to have crossed the Egyptians away from the Pharaoh.

Enjoying a cruise holiday

If you are thinking about a nice week-long getaway, then you can not go wrong with a cruise. The cruise ships offer great accommodations, as well as fabulous on board entertainment. During the day you will be busy visiting different ports of call or sunbathing on the decks while in the evening you can attend live performances in the lounges.

For most cruises, along with your ticket you will get access to all on board activities, meals and even some beverages. When looking for some things to do, people will be able to relax on decks, enjoying a coffee or a book if the swimming pool is not appealing to you.

Some cruise packages also include the shore excursions you will make on your way. Cruises are all about fun, so no matter what you do on the boat or on the shore, make sure you are having fun and are enjoying your holiday.

Hidden beaches of Crete

It’s already a fact that the beautiful Crete Island in Greece features some of the best beaches in the world. But they could be crowded especially during the summer months in Europe.

But even with the crowd in the island, you can still get away from them all and enjoy the island with very few tourists in sight. There are still beaches and small islands in Crete that offers privacy with breathtaking view.

First is the Red Beach. Although it’s a little bit challenging to get there since a little bit of hiking is required, the uniqueness of the beach will soothe your weary feet. The beach is located near Matala Beach which could be your point of arrival if you’re going to the Red Beach by boat.

The second hidden secret of Crete Island is the Grameno Beach. This beach is divided into three and they all offer a scenic view. Highly recommended is the center wherein the sands are finer compared to the other two. There are a few taverns there so you might want to bring food or water.

The Preveli Beach is a highly recommended for everyone who wants privacy. It’s a very breathtaking beach that almost resembles a lagoon. Instead of fine white sand, pebbles dominate the shore but they don’t really hurt the feet. Just wear flip-flops especially when the sun is up.

You can enjoy privacy in Crete Island although it’s full of tourists every year. A little hike from the popular beaches in the island could lead you to its hidden wonders.

Holidays in Cotswolds

Cotswolds is a historical region of England and covers an area of about 790 square miles. It’s England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and that is because it’s not just a historical region where time stood still for hundreds of years but here you will find magnificent countryside, river valleys, gentle hillsides, water meadows, cottages and many more. It’s a great place to go nature tripping and when you bike around Cotswolds you’d surely feel empowered and full of energy.

Cotswolds has ancient limestone villages as well as market towns that had been here for hundreds of years. It’s said that in Cotswolds, time stood still for 300 years… and counting!
Spend your holiday in a beautiful English cottage and you will never forget Cotswolds.

The landscape here together with its historical landmarks made Cotswolds a popular tourist attraction not just to the English but also to tourists from around the world. If you’re tired of vacationing on a beach and want something more earthly and explore all other types of beauty that Mother Nature can offer then Cotswolds is the best choice.

You will definitely enjoy walking, golfing, cycling, horseback riding, camping and many other outdoor activities. Tourist attractions around Cotswolds include places of history, towns and villages and gardens that you should visit during your trip.