Lions and tigers and bears

When you have walked among the wildlife, birds, reptiles and raptors in the nature-like environment at the Denver Zoo. For many urban families and children it may be the closest they get to an experience in the natural outdoors. But it is a worthy substitute that should not be missed.

The Denver Zoo is not just a zoo. It is an environment that transports you from the metro urban population to a sitting that makes you feel you are truly in the outdoors, in the habitat of the wildlife you are witnessing.

The zoo is an educational classroom. It is a place to visit, a place teens and adults can volunteer. When you are there it absorbs you into the sense you are moving from the plains of South Africa to the rainforests of the Amazon to the world’s deserts, the rivers and lakes around the globe and the tundra and frozen artic circle. The realism of the animal and bird environments cast you into a kind of outdoors reality show. One forgets you are in the midst of a metropolitan city.

One of the good feelings you leave the Denver Zoo with is simply having consumed the beauty and presence of wildlife and unique bird species being conserved and protected. You feel equally good to witness wildlife existing in an amazingly realistic and natural environment.

There is an abundance of programs open to individuals, families and children that benefit the animals and birds.

The Adopt-an-Animal classroom program is an interactive learning experience for school students. The adult volunteer program and teen volunteer program for ages 13-17 bring wildlife and young people together. Families and youth can be updated monthly by registering for the Educator, a bulletin available to the public. The zoo sponsors a Scout night each year that offers merit badge points. The Wild at the Movies offers adults and youth a unique wildlife film festival comparable to the popular Discovery Channel. A Halloween Boo at the Zoo day is a fun kids program held annually. The popular Zoo Lights runs through December, featuring animated animal light sculptures. 2008 is the year of the frog and the Denver Zoo will host a Leapfrog Day. These are just some of the community wide zoo programs.

Parents and teachers have an equally exciting variety of educational programs as well. The Children’s Conservation Theater, overnight Bunk with the Beasts, environmental service-learning, Young Scientists, Science Workshops, Guided group tours and career programs are some of the wide ranging learning programs where the zoo partners with metro area school districts. And the popular outreach program staff takes the zoo on the road. Some of these programs have a cost, which are supported by scholarships.

The family and youth educational programs and the classroom and community outreach programs administered by the zoo staff can be explored in detail by calling Matt Herbert, Outreach Manager, or Jim Garcia at 303-376-4867 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              303-376-4867      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. For general information, including group tours and outreach road programs available in metro communities, call 303-376-4888.

The Denver Zoo is one of the nation’s most extensive facilities housing a wide range of wildlife species. Don’t miss a day outdoors at the indoor world of the Denver Zoo.
source:http://www.metrowestfyi.com/story_display.php?sid=9632

Wildlife tourism gaining popularity in Kerala

Wildlife tourism is slowly gaining popularity in kerala and many tourists, especially foreigners, are increasingly enthusiastic about spending time in the wild.

Many wildlife enthusiasts keep coming back for these special interest tours again and again. Though only five percent of the total tourists visiting Kerala are interested in wildlife tourism, their numbers are growing, say wildlife tour operators.

The tourists have six options to choose from, Silent Valley National Park, Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary, Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve.

With the help of local communities and forest department, the company has created a well-planned wilderness experience that introduces a small group of travellers to new environment with minimum impact on the environment, he told a news agency.

People of all age groups, especially in the 35 to70 age group take the tours, he said.

The bookings are made with the help of the forest department that in turn informs the local forest office and the local eco-development communities. The tribal youth and local communities were also involved, he said.

The Chimmony Sanctuary has incredible bird, butterfly and animal diversity and is considered to be one of Kerala's best stretches of deciduous forests. Eco guides from the indigenous Malaya community show the common medicinal herbs used by them. The tourists can feast their eyes on the floral diversity and take a dip in the crystal clear waters of mountain streams.

Source:http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=451983&sid=LIF&ssid=8

Rhodes Voted Top Destination In Europe

Rhodes is the only short haul destination in the top ten of the 2008 Traveller’s Choice Destinations Awards, winning the accolade for highlights ranging from the largest inhabited Medieval town in Europe, located in the island’s capital, to more rural attractions such as the Valley of the Butterflies. One of the tourist hotspots is Lindos, a beautiful town with a beach overlooked by an ancient castle.

The type of property available on the island is hugely varied, ranging from modern apartments in more touristy areas to traditional villas in the smaller villages and towns. Property in Lindos is among the more expensive on Rhodes, but rental returns are also likely to be higher here than in other areas.

However, when compared to other European countries, prices still seem low. According to the Buy Association a small newly-built apartment in the area can be found for under £70,000, while a two-bedroom detached villa on a small development of 20 houses will cost around £150,000 off-plan.

Meanwhile, a one-bedroom apartment on the island rents out for an average of £256 per week, making Rhodes the perfect place to buy a holiday home to let.
source:http://www.homesworldwide.co.uk/europe/greece/news/articles/rhodes_voted_top_destination_in_europe?news_id=0070234

Visit Bangladesh : See the enchanting beauties of nature

Bangladesh, land of enchanting beauty, is endowed with almost all the natural potentials to attract tourists. All her six seasons vibrate with fairs, festivals, mirth and merriment. All riverine beauty, colourful tribal life and simple village life of the friendly millions are main motivational factors for the potential visitors.

Though one of the world's small countries, Bangladesh boasts of certain world class attractions and assets. Bangladesh offer ample opportunity to tourists for rowing, angling, jungle trekking, sun and sea-bathing and above all to be in and amidst the pristine nature. Bangladesh is heir to rich cultural legacy.

In 2000 or more years of its chequered history, many illustrious dynasties of kings and Sultans have ruled and disappeared and left their mark in the shape of magnificent cities, monuments, the desolate ruins which are still visible in places throughout the country. The archaelogolical treasures of Mahasthangarh, Pahapur Buddhist Vihara, a world heritage site and Salbana Vihara at Mainamati and sixty-domed grand mosque at Bagerhat, also a world heritage site, World War-ÐÐ cemetery at Comilla, Kantaji's temple of Dinajpur, the Hindu temples of Chandranath at Sitakund, Adinath at Mahashkhali, Sonargaon and Dhakeshwari in Dhaka bear testimony to its devotional past.

Most outstanding places in Bangladesh also include Cox's Bazar Beach, Dhaka, Kaptai, Chandanpura mosque, Kuakata, Rangamati Lake, tribal life, Sylhet Tea Garden and wildlife of Sundarbans. Other places of tourist attractions are Shilaidaha Kuthibari(Kushtia, a memory place of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore), Sagordari in Jessore, Mujibnagar memorial, Gandhi Asram, Jamuna Bridge, Trishal and Sri Chaitanya Temple.

Above all, simple and friendly people of Bangladesh along with its tribes isolated from modern society by their own distinct culture and way of life make Bangladesh a distinguished and unique attraction for tourists. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), national tourism organization of the country, has renovated the existing tourist facilities and created new facilities at important tourist spots.
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Sorce:http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/06/16/news0529.htm

Palace on Wheels – The Gem of the Rajasthan Train Tours

When it comes to Rajasthan Train Tours, Palace on Wheels features the very best that India offers. Embark on a journey back in time, of peacefulness, tranquility, adventure, culture, cuisine... an unforgettable sojourn, all made possible for you on this superb luxury train.

Since its beginning in 1982, the guests of the Palace on Wheels have received service above the ordinary with an experience which was unashamedly romantic and adventurous. To this day the travelers expect nothing less. This is a journey which should only be embarked upon with the highest of expectations. The train provides an opportunity to explore the centuries, to appreciate the history and culture of Rajasthan without missing the features and details of the passing landscapes and enjoying all the on board comfort and state-of-the-art facilities one could ask for.

Rajasthan is one of the most vibrant and historically and culturally rich states of India. The history of Rajasthan is all bravery and chivalry of the Rajputs. Their tales of gallantry and valor are part and parcel of the Rajasthan culture. Their passion for buildings and architecture is manifest in the myriad of magnificent palaces, forts, havelis and temples that speak volumes about history and heritage of the state.

The Palace on Wheels is an effortless way to experience Rajasthan at its best. The spectacle of Rajasthan's great wilderness will take your breath away. This Rajasthan Train Tour is truly worthy of kings, not surprising the experience is labeled as the Palace on Wheels. In a series of trips, the train links some of Rajasthan's greatest destinations including Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Bharatpur and Agra, before culminating the journey to New Delhi. The itinerary covers the very best attractions of North India from Jaisalmer at the tip of Rajasthan to the pink city Jaipur, from scenic splendors as diverse as the bird sanctuary of Bharatpur to the sleepy villages of Jodhpur, from the desert landscapes of Chittorgarh to sparkling lakes of Udaipur and the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra. During your cruise you will experience the fascinating history and spectacular scenery, exotic wildlife, the beautiful heritage havelis, palaces and forts, desert villages and rippling sand dunes.

The train combines the luxury of five star hotel with the charm of train travel. The Maharaja and Maharani dining cars receive only accolades for their connoisseur selection of Rajasthan cuisines. The food served during the sojourn puts sheer good taste on a plate while gracious hospitality puts you on a pedestal. With 14 coaches named after former Rajput princely states, with spacious cabins, the passengers on board the Palace of Wheels have plenty of space, time and encouragement to do as they please. One can enjoy the company of others, recline idly with a favorite book or simply watch through the window which unfolds new vistas of passing beauty.
Source:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/65262

Top tips for solo travellers

The world teaches you certain lessons pretty quickly when travelling solo. Some of these come easily, especially through talking with experienced travellers - whose knowledge can be a valuable (although not always reliable) resource.

But other times you find things out the hard way. Experiences like desperately chasing after your bag as it's driven off on a random rickshaw, spending hours queuing for train tickets, or holding your head in your hands when you realise that you've been screwed over teach you the basics very quickly.

To help you avoid the worst panic-attacks travelbite.co.uk blogger Nick Claxton brings you some top tips for stress-free solo travels:

You will stand out, no matter what

There may be thousands of ex-pats in Singapore but I'm still conscious that most locals can tell I'm a tourist. In Nepal and India, there is no question of slipping by unnoticed.

It's important to accept that you'll attract stares or be approached by enquiring strangers.

Sometimes it can feel claustrophobic - and I imagine it's twenty times worse for women - but getting angry or annoyed will not make it any better.

Make as big a scene as possible if you feel threatened but try and shrug these things off until that line has been crossed.

bag may be a burden, but make it a light one

Your rucksack is impossible to miss, and sometimes you're incredibly aware of this fact. But instead of thinking that it makes you a target, its best to view it as an annoyance.

Too much fuss over your bag is only likely to attract attention to it. Pack nothing that you would sorely miss and then treat your rucksack with something approaching distain.

I've found this makes other people view it in the same way – this means I can stop worrying about it being nabbed and enjoy myself a lot more.

Pack light, but bring one luxury item

It may be bulky, impractical and responsible for the bruise developing on the top of my head after repeatedly falling from overhead compartments, but my guitar is one of the best things I'm carrying with me.

Try to keep everything else to the minimum but if possible bring something that's a luxury.

It might make no sense to bring along your prized chess set, a clarinet, or even your laptop, but they can be great ways to meet people - and give you something to do whenever boredom inevitably hits on those long train rides.

your instincts

I've left my guitar in the hands of toilet attendants, been driven off to hostels in places I'd never heard of, and taken a guided city tour from a guy I soon realised was a drug dealer - all without running into any trouble.

Maybe I've just been lucky, but I put it down to trusting my instincts. I've turned away from similar situations just as readily when some red warning light flashed on in my head.

Don't feel sheepish about saying no; it can save you a lot of hassle. At the same time be open to saying yes to anything - as long as it feels right.

You'll be lonely sometimes, but it'll pass

Loneliness is the biggest, and most obvious, drawback of travelling solo. Unless you're incredibly outgoing or quickly run into someone travelling the same trip, you're unlikely to completely avoid this - especially if you are moving on regularly.

There will always be times when you're stuck by yourself, or stuck in a crowd with no-one else who understands you - which is a much worse feeling.

The best advice I can offer is to keep an upbeat, welcoming attitude and you'll soon bump into someone new to hang out with, at least until the next station.

is the hardest word

Finally, one of the hardest things I've found when travelling is deciding when to move on to the next destination.

Stay too long in one place and you can stagnate, but when you're enjoying yourself there's always the nagging feeling that you'll be missing out by leaving.

So far I've successfully followed a simple rule to solve this dilemma: If you're having fun, stay.

But when you know the next track on the hostel playlist, its time to leave - that night if possible!

source:http://www.travelbite.co.uk/feature/travel-advice/travel-tips/top-tips-solo-travellers-$1226225.htm

Jim Corbett National Park India

Jim Corbett National Park India had the proud distinction of being chosen as the venue for the inauguration of Project Tiger in India; earlier part of Uttar Pradesh now comes under Uttaranchal, the newly found state. Jim Corbett National Park India is home to a variety of flora and fauna, Corbett park is famous for its wild population of Tigers, Leopards and Elephants. Corbett Tiger Reserve has a great variety of fauna on account of habitat diversity. In the Jim Corbett National Park are found 110 tree species, 50 mammals' species, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species

im Corbett National Park India has always been famous for their resident tigers. Initially Jim Corbett National Park reserve was named as 'Hailey National Park' in 1936. Jim Corbett National Park was renamed in 1954-55 as 'Ramganga National Park' and again in 1955-56 as 'Jim Corbett National Park' after Jim Corbett who hunted down tigers that had turned man-eaters, between 1907 to 1939. Jim Corbett National Park India is the 1st and oldest National Park of India. Jim Corbett National Park India was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973.
im Corbett National Park India is a haven for Tigers as well as its prey, which include four kinds of Deer, Wild Boar and some lesser-known animals. Leopards are mostly found in the hilly areas of the Corbett park. Some nocturnal cats found here are the Leopard Cat, Jungle Cat and Fishing Cat. Sloth Bear is found in the lower regions of the park while the Himalayan Black Bear is seen in the higher hills only. The Dole or Wild Dog, though they can be seen in the southern areas of the park along with the Jackal. Some of the smaller residents of the park are Himalayan Palm Civet, Indian Gray Mongoose, Common Otter, Blacknaped Hare and Porcupine. Elephants are among one of the main attractions of Jim Corbett Park. Along the Ramganga River shores, one can spot the long-snouted, fish-eating Gharial Crocodile and the 'Mugger' Crocodile. Also seen on the rocky hillsides is the Ghoral or Goat Antelopes. The Langur and Rhesus Monkeys are well distributed through out the jim corbett national park and warning the whole Jungle with alarm calls when they see either a Tiger or Leopard from tree-top perches.
Hotels in Jim Corbett National Park can divided in four category: Resorts, Hotels and Forest Rest Houses, providing a higher standard of accommodation at a price as well as guides for expeditions in the forests, which can be as rich in wildlife as the Jim Corbett National Park, without the restrictions.
There are many accommodation facilities at Ramnagar as well as at the Corbett National Park. Being one of the most frequently visited parks in the country, the forest department and other agencies have their hotels, lodges, rest houses, log huts for the visitors.
Forest rest houses, log huts etc at Dhikala, forest rest houses at Sarapduli, Bijrani, and Ghairal offer some of the best stay in the region. There are many resorts along the periphery of the park which take the load off the governments accommodation facilities. To stay at the government hotels, rest houses etc make sure that reservations are done well in advance as the pressure is really high during the tourist seasons.
In order to make the travel tour to Corbett even more joyful we at Corbett Park offer just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or friends in Corbett. We at Corbett Park can customize the tour package and offer the corbett jungle resort and hotel accommodation. As Corbett is quite popular destination during the tourist season, it is better to get reservation before reaching there.
The park normally opens at 0600 hrs in the morning and is open till about 1100 hrs in the morning. In the afternoon the park timings usually are from 1430 to 1730. However depending on the season the timings change locally which the forest authorities of Corbett notify.

Tips to ensure a happy, healthy, summer holiday

A change is as good as a rest' and over the coming months hundreds of thousands will take to the roads, to the skies and even to the rail tracks in pursuit of their change.

While very few people go on holiday anticipating that they won't enjoy it, there are things that make it more or less enjoyable.

Surprisingly, even the tourism industry now scientifically studies the aspects of holidays that make them enjoyable.

However, I could only identify one study that measured the impact on psychological well-being. The study, published in the Journal Of Travel Medicine in 2005, was conducted by Austrian researchers and identified characteristics that predicted the psychological health outcomes of the annual holiday.

One hundred and ninety one, mainly white-collar workers, were administered a questionnaire one week after completion of their annual vacation, evaluating five broad areas, including: physical characteristics of the holiday (eg, duration, distance travelled to reach destination, time zone, temperature, etc), structuring of the day (eg, number of meals provided, planning of the day, etc), health and social activity (eg, amount of sleep, physical activity, making new acquaintances, etc), stress during the vacation (eg, rows, health problems, etc) and, finally, the physical and mental strain of work and basic characteristics, such as age.

Subjects were asked to rate their subjective feelings of recuperation and exhaustion in comparison to before the holiday. Some of the results were unexpected and counter-intuitive. A proportion of the outcome (27pc) could be predicted by measuring the variables.

The higher the mental strain of work, the greater the feeling of recuperation. In addition, a warm temperature at vacation site, the amount of time vacationers had for themselves and for their needs, engaging in physical activity, good quality of sleep and making new acquaintances all had a positive effect.

Interpersonal conflict was negatively associated with recuperation, but only to a very small extent (two per cent), while health problems during the vacation, number of hours slept and number of meals provided had no impact.

Turning to the predictors of improvement in levels of exhaustion, only 15pc of the variance could be explained. Time-zone differences, temperature and health problems during the holiday predicted improvement but, surprisingly, the duration of the holiday and the travel time to the destination did not impact on this.

The finding that the duration of the holiday did not effect exhaustion levels might seem surprising, since it is assumed that the longer the vacation, the greater the time to sleep and unwind.

However, other leisure research has shown that the greatest improvement occurs in the first three days of holiday and peaks by seven.

On the other hand, the extent to which leisure time predicts recuperation is proof of our intuition that freedom from obligations is central to a holidays restorative value.

Surprisingly, self-determination of daily activities or some scheduling of daily activities was not related to recuperation as other studies found, but the mood-enhancing effects of physical activity and also of social interaction were clearly demonstrated in this study.
source:http://www.independent.ie/health/tips-to-ensure-a-happy-healthy-summer-holiday-1402382.html

Kerala Festival Message

Believe it or not, Kerala has around 20,000 Hindu temples and shrines and in almost all the villages there is at least one place of worship for Christians and Muslims.

These major and minor places of worship had contributed significantly to the development and continued maintenance of the rich cultural heritage of the state through the vibrant annual festivals.

Although some of the major festivals are known at the national and international levels, many of them are not known beyond the boundaries of the state.

The organisers of these celebrations are not publicity-conscious. As a result, the efforts to keep track of these festivals have become very difficult.

Obviously, neither the State Tourism Department nor any individual have tried to systematically bring out the detailed information on these cultural festivals till recently.

Kerala Festival Message 2008’, a directory of festivals in Kerala, edited by C A Menon, is a major work which provides detailed and systematic information about the festivals in Kerala.

The directory was first published in 2004 figuring out the details of around 1000 festivals across the state.

The latest and updated version lists out over 2500 festivals in the state in the year 2008, with eye-catching pictures to provide a glimpse of the richness of these festivals to its reader.

The latest volume also covers all the festivals beginning from January 2009 as well as major festivals next year.

The compilation is a valuable addition to the material that helps both domestic and foreign tourists to acquaint themselves with the festivals and rituals in Kerala.

Aimed at facilitating travel agents, tour operators and tourists, especially foreign tourists, to plan their programmes well in advance and to synchronise them with the festivals of their choice, the author is at present engaged in bringing out a directory of festivals in the state in the next five years shortly.

source:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20080527001853&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0