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One of the most famous natural attractions in Grand Cayman Island is Stingray City. This is an area in the ocean not far from the northern tip of Grand Cayman where tourists can get up close to hundreds of friendly stingrays. Stingray City can get quite crowded especially when the cruise ship passengers are at port. Fortunately for us scuba divers, the masses are taken to a shallower section of Stingray City where the sandbars are high enough for tourists to stand in waist deep waters. Scuba divers are taken by one of the many dive operators in Grand Cayman to the deeper part of Stingray City. However, this deeper section is still very much a shallow dive by scuba diving standards. In fact, Stingray City has been referred to in the scuba diving world as the best twelve foot or four metre dive in the world. It is believed that many years ago, sailors visiting the area threw fish remains overboard and soon noticed the stingrays coming for the free food. These particular stingrays became conditioned over the years to the humans and the food handouts unlike stingrays elsewhere in the Caribbean. If you have seen stingrays during dives elsewhere in the world, you will have noticed that they are usually quite shy and will swim away but not those here at Stingray City.

The dive boat took us to a designated site and indeed the depth was very shallow as we could easily see the bottom. The site itself was pretty barren with just the odd reef cluster around a mostly sandy bottom. The divemaster gave us a briefing on how to interact with the stingrays warning everyone that even though they will appear to be friendly, they should still be regarded as wild animals. We were told not to touch them by their razor sharp tails or abuse them in any manner. A bucket filled with squid parts was suspended in the water underneath the dive boat and this is where we fetched our supply of food to feed the stingrays.

As soon as we jumped in the water and made our descent to the bottom, we could see the first few stingrays coming towards us like UFOs. The divemasters showed us a trick where if we held the squid in our closed fists and moved our arms in wide circular arcs around us, we could make the stingrays follow our hands. It was sort of like teasing them for a bit before giving them their treats. Their mouths were located underneath their flat bodies and we were instructed to hold the food in our palms flat facing up when feeding them. The divemasters had demonstrated this on the boat using a little stuffed stingray toy during the briefing. With their keen sense of smell, the stingrays hovered towards and over the food to collect their squid snacks. Its was incredible to see how fast they could stop in the water if they sensed food. They dont have any teeth but have these two strong structures like vise grips in their mouths they use to chomp with. Feeding them sometimes felt like a vacuum cleaner sucking up debris on our palms. Sometimes, we felt their vise grip mouths close up against the flats of our palms. This is why we were advised to keep our palms as flat as possible in order to avoid them from closing up on our fingers. Because the eyes of the stingrays were on the top of their bodies, they couldnt see our palms when they hovered directly over them. They would have to guess where our palms and the food were.

At one instance, I was holding on to the food a little too long in order to further tease one stingray. This one missed my palm and his jaw closed down on my forearm instead leaving me with a nice bruise. It was my fault since the stingray couldnt see and thought that my forearm was my palm holding the squid. I was a bit careless and should have paid more attention to where the stingrays mouth was. No other diver on our boat had any other problems or mishaps. Some of the stingrays although not aggressive, will be all over a diver if they still sense food but couldnt find the palm. It was hilarious to watch some other divers pushed over on the sandy bottom by a stingray trying to find the squid. One large stingray even bumped me in the scuba mask but it was all fun. If the stingrays sense that a diver doesnt have any food after awhile, they will go towards another diver that does.

The Stingray City dive is a single tank trip usually done in the afternoon. It is a unique dive that is worth doing but keep in mind that the stingrays are the main and usually the only attractions during this dive. There isnt much else to see in terms of other marine life or coral reefs at the site so it would be advised to spend the morning doing some regular reef dives too in order to take in what Grand Cayman scuba diving has to offer.

Situated in the heart of central North Carolina along the border of Wake and Chatham counties, just thirty minutes south of Raleigh, is the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope Valley Railway. Featuring steam and diesel locomotives as well as various boxcars, flatcars, and the like, the museum / railway has been entertaining train fans at its rural Bonsal location since 1981. Take a trip down the old railroad line with me and experience a little bit of American train history!

Since I was a boy I have been enamored by trains — steam engines, diesels, bullet trains and even subways. My family feels the same way; we marvel at the sight of a steam locomotive hissing and wheezing its way clackety-clack down the tracks, imagining that we, too, are taking a trip across this great nation of our’s.

This particular rolling museum will excite train buffs for the variety of equipment on hand, as well as, for the rides that are made available to the general public. Indeed, when we visited the museum recently the grounds were packed since ride days are held only on the first Sunday of the month [from May through November with special Halloween and Christmas season rides as well]. Five excursions are held each ride day; visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the ride they wish to take.

Pulled by a rugged General Electric diesel locomotive [built in the early 1940s], the one hour train ride allows passengers to travel from Bonsal to New Hill and back. The 6.5 mile track was purchased from the venerable Southern Railway Company and is now used exclusively by the museum.

Enthusiasts sit in one of two comfortable open passenger cars that are, in fact, converted flat cars. On a recent Sunday, the museum brought out one of the aforementioned diesels and added a pair of wood sided red cabooses and a brown baggage car to round out the set.

On the sprawling museum grounds sits a US Army Transportation Corps Tool Car which currently houses the museum’s gift shop and exhibits. Various other cars and a crane boom tender are located on site as well; some are being carefully restored while others are in active use. Currently, the museum’s steam locomotive is used on a limited basis, but plans are to begin using it on excursions more frequently.

The railroad museum is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers [Saturdays are workdays and skilled volunteers are welcome]. Train ride prices are reasonable and passengers know that the fares are helping to restore a little bit of train history to North Carolina while reliving it at the same time.

A “G” scale model garden railroad is on site along with a barbeque restaurant and adjoining picnic area. There is plenty of parking on the premises as well.

Yes, there certainly is much to see and do while visiting the North Carolina Railroad Museum / New Hope Valley Railway in Bonsal, NC — stop by soon and you will hear the conductor announcing to you, “all aboard!”

For many people traveling to a foreign place can be an intriguing and exotic experience. Having the opportunity to learn about other cultures within their setting can be remarkably enjoyable and educational. Unfortunately for many individuals the prospect of traveling never presents itself, whether it is because of a hectic career or a budget that is simply too tight to allow for vacation spending. However, if one can afford to take a trip to an exotic place, there is truly no better way to spend vacation time.

Choosing a vacation destination that is ideal for you can be a difficult task. If you’ve never traveled abroad in your lifetime then it is likely that there are countless places you’d like to visit and as such choosing just one can be rather tough. The decision can become quite complicated if you have a number of friends or family members going with you and you simply cannot agree on a place. However keeping in mind what you wish to discover or partake in on your vacation can make the decision a little less problematic. To elaborate if you wish to bask in the hot sun all day and work on a tan or go swimming or snorkeling in warm, blue waters then it is likely that you will travel to somewhere in the Caribbean. Knowing exactly what you wish to see accomplish on you vacation can rule out a significant number of places.

If you are more partial to the cultural aspects of a place, you really enjoy historical artifacts and you really cannot stand overbearing heat, then you may want to consider some place in Europe. This is not to say that you cannot observe rich history within other places in the world, it is just that many cities in Europe are quite popular for their presentation of history within the landscape and their history oriented tours.

Bid a Fond Farewell to Your High School Days with an All-Inclusive Prom Night Cruise

Prom night represents a rite of passage in many ways. With the remaining days of high school dwindling and the responsibilities of adulthood rapidly approaching, students want to make sure that their prom is one that can be remembered with smiles and tears far into the future. That’s why you should do something a little different when it’s time to plan your prom-celebrate this amazing night on the water!

When you enjoy all that the Big Apple has to offer from the comfort of a luxurious yacht, you’ll create wonderful memories and great photo opportunities. Your prom night will be a topic of conversation among you and your friends for years. You passed your high school years with a core group of friends that you laughed, cried, studied and partied with it’s only natural that you want to commemorate the end of those days and toast new beginnings in style.

Of course, romance is an essential element in any good prom night. The right yachts have terrific dance floors, talented DJs and beautiful outdoor decks. Whether you want to dance the night away with that special someone or hold hands under the stars as New York’s landmarks drift past, the evening will unfold exactly as you wish.

Trust Marco Polo Cruises when you want to plan a different and much-talked-about prom night. We are attentive to all of your needs and work to design a cruise that will fit within your budget. We do everything in our power to create enjoyable, comfortable and safe cruises that offer gorgeous views of New York Harbor, Chelsea Piers, the Statue of Liberty and other hallmark New York historical spots.

Browse our Web site to find out all you need to know about how Marco Polo Cruises can ensure that your prom night is all that you ever wanted it to be. Contact us at 1-212-691-6693 if you require additional assistance.

Where do you prefer to spend a lazy Saturday? Do you enjoy watching television, or perhaps shopping at the mall? When you have nothing on the agenda, where do you like to head first? For me, whenever I get the chance I’m always off to spend time at the local park.

There is something about spending an afternoon at the park that I just cannot get enough of. There are so many great things about the park to love.

A park is a great place because it is outside. It is healthy and refreshing to spend time out of doors and to breathe fresh air. When it is cool outside people can bundle up and be warm, and when it is warm out they can enjoy the sun and heat.

A park is the perfect place to spend family time. There are usually a lot of things to do together. Most parks have playgrounds for children and space to play basketball, baseball, or volleyball as a family. Visiting a park is also a great way for friends to enjoy a Saturday together.

At a park people can bring their dogs and other pets and let them play. There is nothing better than enjoying an afternoon with your family, friends, and your special pet. Most parks have a lot of space for pets to run, exercise and play. There are not too many ways to spend a lazy day that your dog can be involved. Another thing that is great about a park is that it is a place that people gather for special celebrations. Summertime holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day are spent in parks by many people each year. Birthday parties and even wedding celebrations often take place in a special park. The possibilities are endless when you have a great park close to home.

Everyone loves one of the greatest traditions that takes place at a park: barbequing. A great park always has grills that are open for use or fire pits that can be used to roast a hot dog or too. There is nothing better than to spend a day at a park and then barbeque your own dinner over the coals or a fire.

Spending time at a park allows people to get away from the busyness and rushed pace of day to day life. People can be as active or as restful as they want to be at a park. People enjoy days surrounded by the people they love and doing the activities they love to do. They play great games and eat great food. For me, nothing quite beats a day at the park.

The islands of Samoa are emerging as an exciting new South Pacific travel destination between Hawaii and New Zealand. This “Heart of Polynesia” is politically split into two distinct entities 80 miles apart. The country Samoa is a former German colony, captured by New Zealand in 1914 and granted independence in 1962. In 1997 the name was changed from Western Samoa to Samoa.

American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the equator. Annexed by the United States for use as a naval base in 1900, the territory no longer has any military significance. Instead, Pago Pago currently hosts the StarKist and “Chicken of the Sea” tuna canneries, making it the most important commercial fishing port under the American flag.

The Samoan environment is tropically lush, with green volcanic peaks plunging to brilliant coral reefs, an ecotourism paradise still unspoiled by mass tourism. Visitors often stay in open Samoan beach houses called fale (pronounced FAH-lay) and adopt the laidback local lifestyle. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, surfing, deep sea fishing, and hiking opportunities are all close at hand.

Samoan culture is alive and strong, and local traditions can add another fascinating layer to your travel experience. Most Samoans are subsistence farmers who reside in small villages governed by chiefs (matai). The egalitarian ideals of this communal society place loyalty to family and religion above all. Visitors can sample this culture at the weekly “fiafia” island night dance shows staged at most of the larger hotels and beach resorts. Buffets of authentic Samoan dishes are an essential part of these events.

Samoa’s climate is sultry, alternately sunny and rainy, but always hot and humid. Cooling sea breezes make the shoreline the best place to be year-round. The nicest months weather-wise are May to September, “winter” south of the equator. The rainy season runs from November to April, with increasingly intense hurricanes sweeping in due to global warming. Yet you can get long spells of bright sunny weather even during the “rainy” season, and Samoa’s excellent Vailima beer (created by German brewmasters) tastes best at this time of year.

Most visitors spend their time in independent Samoa, which is considerably bigger and less expensive than American Samoa. However the rugged scenic beauty of Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa, should not be missed. In recent years some of the most strikingly beautiful parts of the territory have been incorporated into American Samoa National Park. There’s great hiking on Tutuila and wonderful snorkeling on Ofu in the seldom visited Manua Group.

Traditional Samoan culture is largely based on oratory, and it’s no accident that several literary legends originated here. Robert Louis Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa and is buried on a hilltop above Apia, the capital. His mansion is now a museum dedicated to the author. Somerset Maugham’s short story “Rain” about Sadie Thompson and the repressed missionary thrown together in a guesthouse at Pago Pago, American Samoa, has been adapted by Hollywood several times. The original guesthouse still exists, now an upscale restaurant and inn. In “Tales of the South Pacific,” James A. Michener based the prototype of his character Bloody Mary on an Apia hotelkeeper named Aggie Grey, whose family still operates Samoa’s largest resorts. Michener’s book was later made into the musical “South Pacific.”

Getting to Samoa is easy with direct flights from Hawaii and Los Angeles on Hawaiian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines, and Air New Zealand. Local ferries and small commuter planes ply frequently between the islands, and getting around by public bus or rental car is no challenge. Visas are not required by most visitors for entry to either Samoa, although a passport and onward plane ticket are mandatory.

With all the cruise offers out there in the market, there are everyday more and more people demanding the complete cruise vacation experience. All inclusive cruises born in the fashion of all inclusive vacations, with the goal of providing all the services and offering significant savings at the same time. An all inclusive cruise is a sort of a just pay and relax vacation. No extra worries before or after the cruise, the right kind of cruises for people who have all budget planned.

Most cruises are in a way all inclusive, because the price usually includes all the basic stuff like rooms, basic meals, etc. But all inclusive cruises take it a step further and their programs feature full trips and excursions at the cruise destinations, meals and fancy dinners, aboard-cruise activities, beverages and night entertainment. More expensive packages go as far as providing alcohol, shore excursion, scuba equipment and more.

You should keep in mind what type of vacation you are going to have in order to choose the right all inclusive cruises. There are packages to meet every need: family cruises, adult-only, golf cruises, honeymoon cruises, spring break cruises and many more. You definitely wont run out of options.

When choosing all inclusive cruises for your vacation, be sure to check all the offers available according to your budget. There are a lot of options because there are a lot of cruise ships as well. Searching in internet can result in a whole set of varied offers that you can then search more deeply. You may also like to contact a travel consultant who will be of immense help to find the perfect all inclusive cruises for your vacation.

In the end, remember that all inclusive cruises are the perfect way to have a no worries cruise vacation. Just take your time choosing the right package for you and you are guaranteed to have the time of your life.

Backpacking in New Zealand How to Get Amongst the Locals & Experience Things Off The Tourist Trail

A great way for backpackers to get a taste of the real New Zealand is to seek out local events and festivals in smaller towns and communities. Take your time to chill out in one place for a while and you will be surprised how much more you can deepen your experience by getting amongst the local scene.

One festival not to be missed is the legendary Wild Foods festival held annually in a small town on the West Coast of the South Island called Hokitika.

Due to the isolated location of the West Coast the Coasters have always done things their own way, paying little attention to how the rest of the world lives. The festival is a prime example of this, as it show cases the rather random delicacies of the coast and the local characters that live there. You name it, it’s on offer and both locals and tourists come from afar to challenge themselves to eat the huge selection of wild foods.

Some of the more memorable dishes at this years festival included Mountain Oysters (goat testicles); huhu grubs that were very much alive; eel spine, marinated duck tongue; semen sauce; cow tit; seagull turd; rotten fish eyes and possum pie. MMMMMM Yuk! Funnily enough there was such a high demand for the live huhu grubs that they sold out. The atmosphere is awesome as everywhere you look people are egging their friends on encouraging them to try the most vulgar of the vulgar wild foods on offer.

A few of the more tame or should we say edible foods – included Bambi burgers, white bait fritters, homemade fudge, pickled punga (native fern), mussels and wild pork.

Lets not forget that there is also plenty of booze and live music (hillbilly style) at the festival for those who like a drink or three and a bit of a boogie. The locally brewed Monteiths Ale was flowing from mid day along with a selection of New Zealand wines.

Hokitika has a population of about 6,000 and with more than 10,000 people attending the Wild Foods Festival accommodation options get rather interesting. So where does everyone sleep? The local fire brigade set up a couple of large camp sites right by the beach which over flows with tents and campervans. The setting is to die for… right at your doorstep is a rugged west coast beach dotted with bonfires as far as one can see which makes for the perfect place to chill out on return from the Hillbilly dance.

On waking early to enjoy watching the sun rise take a stroll and you will discover that the less organised have set up home on the railway track, footpath, under the town clock or in some less fortunate cases in amongst the abundance of porta-loos

There are many fantastic festivals in New Zealand, so be sure to enquire about what is on and where during your backpacking through our beautiful country, Aotearoa the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Vacations can become costly. The cost is often associated with extra expenses such as food, beverages, and entertainment. If you plan vacationing aboard a cruise ship, you do not necessarily have to be worried about the cost.

All inclusive cruise ship is a ship where just about everything is included. The cost of your drinks, food, and entertainment are often taken care of. Many people wonder whether or not they you should book reservations aboard a traditional cruise ship or an all inclusive cruise ship.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to an all inclusive cruise ship.

The biggest advantage is that the majority of your needs are taken care of. Most all inclusive cruises cover food, drinks, and entertainment. If you plan to drink a large amount of alcohol or feasting on the amazing onboard food, you may be able to do so free of charge. You may also be granted exclusive admittance into movie theatres and video arcades.

While many of your food and drinks are included in an all-inclusive package, not all are. It is possible that you may be required to pay for your alcoholic beverages. There are some cruise ships where alcohol beverages are included in the package, but on others it is not.

When it comes to food, your food at a sit-down restaurant may be provided free of charge, but your snacks are typically not covered. This often includes snacks or small meals purchased at onboard specialty shops and vending machines. You can save money by brining your own snacks onboard, if the cruise ship allows it.

Entertainment is often included in an all inclusive cruise ship package. As with food and drinks, the entertainment is often limited. It is likely that you will gain free admission into a dance or ball, but you will not be able to gamble free of charge.

To find out whether or not you will save money aboard an all inclusive cruise ship, you should estimate your cost of food, drinks, and entertainment aboard a traditional cruise. By comparing the two, you can determine which cruise package offers the better deal.

The city of Pasadena, California may be a relatively small city (population under 150,000), however, due to it’s proximity to downtown Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley as well as it’s extremely popular “Old Town” shopping area and being the home of the Rose Bowl, it recieves a disproportionately large number of visitors every day.

While the citizens of Pasadena enjoy an income that is well above average, there are numerous other areas surrounding the city, such as Encino, Flintridge, Glendale, La Canada, La Crescenta, San Marino, Sierra Madre, etc., where many of the residents also have disposable income high enough to be able to afford the purchase of fine antiques.

Due to the foregoing many excellent antique dealers and shops have opened establishments in the city. Here you will find fine early american, spanish colonial, european, oriental and most any other type of antique furniture, accessories, jewelry, etc. you could wish for.

For a listing of Pasadena antique dealers that deal in real antiques, not used furniture, so called “estate jewelry” or other lesser quality items see http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com/antiquedealer.html. Most of the dealers that I spoke with have been friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. Several have buyers that travel the world in order to locate top quality pieces for their clients. Many were even willing to refer me to other establishments if they were unable to supply me with what I was looking for.

For more information about the city of Pasadena, California see http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Pasadena, California guides and directories listing hotels, restaurants, churches, physicians, attorneys, information, resources, services, things to do, places to go, art galleries, service organizations, auto dealers, nursing homes, convalescent hospitals, antique dealers and more.