One of the most scenic places on earth would have to be Canada’s Rocky Mountains and there is no better way to see it than with luxury train travel. Canada has a large selection of rail options taking in much of the country’s breathtaking outdoors. Some of the carrages are even equipped with glass roofed windows to take in the slendor of the amazing countryside. Sit back and enyoy this weeks You Tube of the week and get a glimpe of the best of Canada on rail.
Posts from ‘November, 2007’
Grand Prix action in Macau
The Grand Prix comes to the Portuguese island of Macau next weekend for what promises to be a huge weekend but for those who cant get there for the action there is a great museum you can visit during the year. The museum celebrates the the 50 odd years of racing in Macau and has some great displays. Opening in 1993 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Macau Grand Prix the centre has some great memorabilia and amazing racecars and motorbikes. For those who want a real bargain and want to see some of Macau’s other great museums like the Wine Museum (which is next door), the Maritime Museum, Lin Zexu Museum and the Museum of Art there is a a bargain joint ticket available.
Breakfast with the orang-utans
Orang utangs are one of the most precious and endangered of all forest creatures and there is nothing quiet like coming face to face with them over breakfast. Singapore Zoo one of the worlds finest zoos offers one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. Imagine sitting down to a fresh banquet of tropical fruits and other breakfast fare with an orang utang. These beautiful animals are one of the zoo’s star attractions they are the first zoo to have free ranging area which is home to over 20 of these orange hairy creatures. The zoo is part of a very important breeding program which is helping to save these animals from extinction. With people able to get up close and personal with the orang utangs it is hoped that we better understand the needs for survival and conservation of their habitat.
A market for the ladies
Hong Kong is a shoppers paradise and there is no better place to pick up a bargain at one of the many markets. The ladies market on Tung Choi Street in Mong Kok Kowloon is no exception it is full of amazing merchandise for the shopper. The market dosn’t only sell products for the ladies although there is a huge range of clothing, jewelery and fashion accessories it sells just about everything, toys, DVDs, food, you name it. A lot of the high fashion products are a fraction of the retail price but be ware many goods are pretty convincing fakes. The market opens about lunch time and goes into the evening closing at about 10:30 pm. Remember half the fun is to bargain you can save heaps of the first price. The easiest way to visit the market is to catch the MTR to Mong Kok Station then a quick walk along Prince Edward Road from the B2 exist will get you to Tung Choi Street. While you are there visit the gold fish market, it’s only a few blocks away and amazing.
A croc of a cruise
Ever wanted to come face to face with one of the worlds most feared creatures in its natural habitat, well Australia’s Kakaudu is the place. Imagine taking a majestic cruise up the South Alligator River and watch salt water crocodiles glide by. The Yellow Water Bilabong is the place at the end of Jim Jim Creek not far from Jabaru. Experienced guides point out some of the spectacular scenery and magnificent wildlife from canopied cruise boats. Kakadu is home to not only crocodiles but nearly a third of Australia’s bird species including magpie geese, eagles and the magnificent Jaburu stork. At the begining of the cruise to satisfy safety regulations the crew explain the important rules for an emergency including where the life jackets are kept, only a brave person would want to use them in this croc infested area.
A ride on the Gelmerbahn Funicular
The Gelmerbahn is Europe’s steepest funicular which is an inclined railway similar to a tram which is pulled up and down a incline with a cable. The Gelmerbahn in Switzerland is Europe’s steepest and ascends 450 metres up a mountain face. The trolley is pulled up a 110 percent gradient in only a few seconds offering spectacular views of the Grimsel pass and the surrounding valleys and lakes. The Gelmerbahn is open during the warmer months from June to October and is located just outside of Innertkirchen in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. The funicular was actually built in 1926 for helping construct the Handeck Hydroelectric power station but is now purely a tourist service.
Watch out for Donkey Kong’s barrels!
Donkey Kong is one of the most loved of the video games and has survived over quarter of a century. Today the game is celebrated in a huge display at Berlin’s Computer Game Museum or computerspielemuseum. The huge scaffolding covers the front of the museum’s facade complete with barrels, ladders and of course everyone’s favorite ape Donkey Kong.
The museum itself is an amazing display of everything computerized it will keep the geek in you interested for hours, there’s lots of early computers and games from simple ping pong right up to the latest state of the art computer games and gadgets of the present.
Who wants to sleep with the fishes?
We love a unusual hotel here at Tripandom, and we think this one rates right up there. Jules Undersea Lodge is a interesting hotel in Key Largo, Florida, it’s actually under the sea. Situated 21 feet under the surface this two roomed hotel features everything you want, a kitchenette with fridge and microwave, beds, TV and plenty of sealife just out the window. Imagine waking up to a squid, turtle or eel taking a peek in your window- you won’t find that in too many places. The hotel is very popular for honeymoons and quite a few weddings even take place there. The hotel even offers diving and snorkel course.
Red Square
Red Square is the most famous city square in Moscow and is often considered the as the centre of Moscow. During the Soviet years Red Square is where all the important military parades were held with thousands of troops marching along with tanks and missiles in front of giant red flags of Lenin. Today Red Square is marched upon by tourists and performances by the likes of Paul McCartney and Pink Floyd have replaced the performances of tanks. Red Square is home to the Russian Government (the Kremlin), Saint Basil’s Cathedral with its colourful onion shaped towers, the restored Kazan Cathedral, the GUM department store and Lenin’s Mausoleum where the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin has been on public display since he died in 1924. A visit to Moscow is not complete without checking out Red Square and if you want to check out Mr Lenin make sure you get there early as the lines are often long.
Black taxi political tours
Well here’s a trip with a difference, imagine jumping in a black London taxi and touring the famous political icons of Belfast. This entertaining and informative tour takes in all the sites, the murals, the Falls and Shankill Roads and peac walls which have been so much a part of the political struggle over the last few decades in Northern Ireland. Tours vary a bit too depending on the point of view of the driver you get, so you never quiet know what you are in for. And if the tour wasn’t one of the best days you have in Belfast it only gets better at the end when you are treated to a tasty bowl of Irish stew and a pint of world famous Guinness. Each tour takes about an hour and a half but you can usually do a deal with the driver and cater it to your tastes for a few extra pounds.
