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SriLankan Airlines air taxi service to fly by January…

twinotter-sri-lankan-airlines Sri Lanka’s National career SriLankan Airlines is in the process of acquiring two Twin Otter 400 aircraft to start domestic air taxi services on the island, aviation sources told the media today.

The air taxi service is to commence operations in January 2011 targeting the winter season tourists. The aircraft, both Twin Otter 400s are twin-engine aircraft capable of carrying 15 passengers and luggage. The aircraft will be outfitted as seaplanes enabling them to land on pavement, sea, river, or lake surfaces.

Head of Worldwide Sales for Sri Lankan Airlines Mohamed Fazeel told the media that the new service will enable travellers to reach any part of the island within 40 minutes.

Earlier the national carrier SriLankan Airlines operated an air taxi service to several domestic destinations but suspended flights in 2007 due to deteriorating security and a drop in foreign visitors during the war. Now with the war over and tourist arrivals booming, it’s only natural to upgrade and reinstate the service, said Fazeel.

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Sri Lanka

Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

(By Dhaneshi YATAWARA) — Declared as a nature reserve on December 5, 1969 and later in March 1988 upgraded to a National Park under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, Horton Plains and its forests were subjected to much discussion being affected by bio-pirates.

Spreading across over 3,169 hectares of land Horton Plains had been originally known as Mahaeliya and has been known as ‘Elk Plain’ in the colonial period. Mahaeliya was renamed as Horton Plains attributing credit to the British Governor of Sri Lanka Sir Robert Wilmot Horton (1831 – 1837).

Due to its unique biological and aesthetic value Governor Horton took steps to protect this plain following his visits. Though white shadows of the British rulers have long left our shores the names still remain.

“Contribution to the environment from the Horton Plains is immense being the catchment area of almost all Sri Lanka’s major rivers,” said Park Warden of the Horton Plains, G.U. Saranga. As he explained having the main hydro power plants with its reservoirs in close proximity of the plain proves its water retaining ability. Before the British destroyed the montane and cloud forests to cultivate tea, the Kings of Sri Lanka took special steps to protect these unique forest covers declaring it as King’s protected land. Ancestors knew these cloud forests were the heart beat of the environment.

Located between northern latitudes 6 degrees, 47 minutes and 6 degrees and 50 minutes and in the Eastern hemisphere between 80 degrees 46 minutes and 80 degrees 51 minutes, Horton Plains is at 2,100 metres above sea level, nestled in the highest tableland of Sri Lanka in the southern end of the central mountain mass. The annual average rainfall of Horton Plains exceeds 5,000 mm as it rains almost everyday.

Horton Plains is affected both by the Southwest and Northeast monsoons. The area is ‘dry’ from January to March with an average temperature of 15 centigrade. Ground frost is common from December to January. Minimum recorded temperature is between 2 – 3 centigrade. Wet Patana (grasslands) are combined with the montane cloud forests in making this undulating plateau. The western slope of the Horton Plains National Park comprises most extensive breath taking montane cloud forests.

Isolated park

“This is an isolated national park,” Saranga said. Which means it is not connected to a stretch of forests whereas other national parks are patches of regional forest cover. The 18,060 hectares of natural forest surrounding Horton Plains is a buffer zone to protect it from threatening human activities of border villages. The surrounding forests belongs to the Forest Department. Ohiya, Pattipola and Dayagama located closer to Horton Plains are situated over 11 kilometres from the park.

Horton Plains consists of four eco systems such as, Montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshylands and its aquatic eco-system. The top soil of the plain has more humus as deterioration of organic material is less in the environment due to the low temperature. Thus the half deteriorated organic matter with lot of fibre mixed with soil acts as a sponge absorbing water rather than making it muddy and slippery. This specific marshyland feeds water mainly to Agara Oya, Bogawanthalawa Oya and Belihul Oya.

Agara Oya is one of the main tributaries of the Mahaweli River. Bogawanthalawa Oya begins from the Kelani River and Belihul Oya from Walawe River. Kirigalpottha and Totupolakanda Mountains, the second and the third highest mountains located within the same eco region, are the star grounds for some of the main rivers.

Before Horton Plains was a National Park, the Agricultural Department of the then Government commenced cultivating potatoes in these plains from 1950 to 1969. Parallel to this the Irrigation Department built a irrigation system which is known today as the Chimney Pond.

Fauna and flora

“In Horton Plains 50% of its species are endemic,” Saranga said highlighting the importance of protecting its bio diversity. Including ‘Binara’ (‘Exacum trinervium’) with its distinct purple flower and ‘Nellu’ (‘Strobilanthes sp.’) with blue mauve coloured flowers and intoxicating seeds, 744 plant species are nestled in Horton Plains; 5% of plant species found here are endemic.

The endemic ‘Keena’ (Calophyllum walkari’), ‘Syzygium rotundifolium’, ‘Syzygium sclerophyllum’, ‘Wal Kurundu’ (Cinnamomum ovalifolium’) and ‘Polkatugaha’ (‘Actinodaphne speciosa’) dominate the forest canopy which is approximately 20 metres in height. Rhododendrons (Maharathmal), commonly found in the plain, brings a sparkling beauty with its crimson red flowers.

The Drawf bamboo, smallest bamboo found in Sri Lanka, grows in marshy lands in the Horton Plains. Two invasive plants are common in Horton Plains introduced by the British. One is a tall thorny shrub with bright yellow flowers called European gorse and the other one a bright green fern named Warella. An African exotic grass called ‘Kikuriya’ (‘Pennisetum clandestinum’) is another fauna introduced by colonists for cattle grazing.

The sambur is Horton Plains flag species. They are found in large numbers during the hours of the day and in the evenings in their feeding grounds. The elephants are said to have disappeared from the area about 70 years ago. Though the grey slender loris was known to exist in the cloud forests the latest discovery is the red slender loris. There were early records of its existence yet no one saw the red slender loris alive until this year. Researches on ascertaining the number of loris in the cloud forests is on going. The leopard, otter, the long-tailed giant squirrel, the bear, monkey and the toque macaque are some noteworthy animals found in Horton Plains. Sighting the bird, Ceylon Arangaya (‘Myophonus blighi’) is a rare opportunity for a wildlife enthusiast. Numerous birds migrate from Europe and Northen Asia during winter to the highlands. Twelve endemic birds live in the Horton Plains.

Only two exotic fish species inhabit the streams, namely the carp and the rainbow trout. Many endemic crustaceans live in the aquatic eco-system of Horton Plains. Most of the amphibians living in Horton Plains are endemic. Though the reptile diversity is low in Horton Plains the Common Roughside and the Buff striped keelback common are in the Plains. Yet the agamid lizards are quite wide spread in Horton Plains.

Horton Plains is the only national park where visitors are allowed to trek along the tracks. Today Horton Plains attracts a large number of visitors each year, thus increasing the earnings. “There has been a slight decline in the number of local visitors to the plains this year. With terrorism wiped out from the country, the number of foreigners visiting the park has increased,” Saranga said.

“Local tourists had more places to visit with the end of war and I believe they less visited the traditional locations, such as Horton Plains. Parallel to this foreign tourists visiting Horton Plains showed a sharp increase in 2010,” Saranga added.

In 2009, 11,026 foreign tourists and 155,587 local tourists visited Horton Plains. Compared to the peak months of 2009 – the number of visitors doubled in this year. In February 2009 little less than 1,500 foreigners visited but in February over 2,500 visited. The highest number is in August. August 2009 number of foreign visitors was less than 1,500 but in 2010 it increased to over 3,000. “Though the number of local visitors is low at the moment we can expect it to increase in the months to come,” Saranga said.

There could be a threat to the environment due to the large number of visitors to the Plains. Especially in Horton Plains, where visitors are allowed to trek on designated path and are free to enjoy the beauty of the nature. Over enthusiastic visitors try to pick something this beautiful nature to take home. Birds, mammals, butterflies, lizards, plants and flowers are beautiful only in this breathtaking sceneries and not at one’s home. Visitors would pluck ‘binara’ flowers, Rhododendrons, ferns and twigs of trees on their tour and dump them close to the entrance on their return knowing very well the consequence of their illegal acts.

Environment

Montane forest blends with aquatic eco-system

Nature plants fauna and flora in its appropriate place and humans being a part of the nature is incapable in over ruling mother nature. With the season around the corner visitors to Horton Plains should take interest to protect this unique environment.

“Enforcing rules and regulations will help protect nature,” said Director General of Wildlife, Botanical and Zoological Gardens of the Economic Development Ministry, Chandrawansa Pathiraja. “With more visitors to parks it is important to protect the parks with proper entry/exit points. In the case of threats from smuggling of plants and animals we need different parameters to prevent it as smuggling goes beyond rules and regulations,” he said.

Under the instructions of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa discussions are in progress to identify the present requirements to protect nature as well as to implement the rules and regulations established for environment conservation.

“Under the instructions of the Minister we are working on to bring amendments to the existing fauna and flora protecting rules and regulations to further strengthen them as we see there are loopholes in the existing legal frame work,” Pathiraja added highlighting particularly the importance of protecting the declared areas.

“As many development activities are land based and as the responsible authority both for development and environment protection development works and environment conservation should be carried out hand in hand,” he said. As Pathiraja further explained authorities plan to demarcate the present forest boundaries and take necessary actions to conserve the existing forests in the country.

The Economic Development Ministry, under the purview of Minister Basil Rajapaksa, works with the theme of linking tourism and our natural resources without destroying them. “With the end to terrorist threats in the country foreign tourists visiting our National Parks have doubled now. We could be prepared for the next tourist season from October to November,” he said.

“Horton Plains, Yala, Wilpattu and Kumana are visited national parks by foreign tourists and we are in the process of upgrading the facilities for visitors,” he said. “We are improving the parks to international standards”, he added. Measures have been taken to upgrade facilities like accommodation, sanitation and water supply.

Proper awareness on implementing the regulations would help protect the Horton Plains which is home to many of the rare primitive species of the world.

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Germany

Germany relaxes travel advisory on Sri Lanka

Germany has relaxed its travel advisory to Sri Lanka from October 2010 following the improvement in the security situation in the country.

German Ambassador Jens Plotner told the media that Germany has relaxed the travel advisory after the war and it will be further relaxed from this month onwards.

The number of tourists to Sri Lanka is increasing rapidly and the country has become a popular destination due to its tropical charm and value for money. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set an ambitious goal to attract over 2.5 million tourists by 2016.

According to Ambassador Plotner, the only area which Germany has not yet recommended its tourists to travel is the extreme North as foreigners are still not permitted to travel to Jaffna without ministry permission due to landmine clearing operations. “I hope this will be dropped in the near future. Once the state of emergency is completely lifted there will be a situation where there would be no specific travel advisory at all”, he said. Plotner further mentioned that Sri Lanka was popular as a destination and the country has the potential to develop as one of the best eco-friendly tourist destinations in Asia, and also the best country for Ayurveda treatment.

“Many German tourists visit Sri Lanka for Ayurveda treatment. This is another sector where Sri Lanka has a distinct advantage to popularise the country among tourists. This sector needs to be developed more”, he said.

The German Government has pledged nearly US$ 15 million for the country’s development activities, including the de-mining and poverty alleviation programs in the North and the East.

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Sri Lanka

Pigeon Island Resort, Trinco, Sri Lanka

We arrive, bolt down our lunch, change our clothes and head out to sea. We have been on the road since 4am, but the bracing breeze and the sea spray is wonderfully reviving. Ahead, Pigeon Island rises out of the water.

Beside me in the boat is Henry Logan-Smith, front office manager at the Pigeon Island Resort. We spend the next few hours exploring the beautiful island, dotted with aloe vera plants and blooming orange sea shoe flowers.

As we walk around Henry, a native, tells me he left the region in the early eighties, when violence broke out. Today he’s back to ply his trade in the hospitality industry and following closely on his heels are busloads of tourists, all determined to discover the long hidden world of Trincomalee. As roads open up and the military presence becomes less visible, hoteliers all across the region are gearing up for a boom.

PIGEON ISLAND RESORT – GET BEST RATES!

Among the many hotels dotting the shores of the sweeping stretch of Nilaveli beach, The Pigeon Island Resort enjoys a particularly breath taking location. Just a little past the Nilaveli Beach Resort, it is one of the only boutique hotels in the area. The beach in front of it is beautiful and clean, stretching as far as the eye can see on both sides. Directly in front lie the Pigeon Islands themselves, one clearly larger than the other. (Together the two are a designated marine park, famous for their mounds of white coral on the beaches and the rock pigeons that nest in the rocky outcrops.)

A trip to the island is one of the highlights of staying in the hotel – as is the chance to explore Trincomalee itself. With world class dive sites and a number of beautiful reefs, the area is rich in marine life. Need some suggestions? The manager of the hotel, Patrick de Silva also grew up in Trincomalee and knows the area well.

The sumptuous meals served at the hotel though give one even less motivation to go wandering. Under the rule of chef M.D.J Anthony, the kitchen turns out everything from freshly baked doughnuts and croissants to an authentic rice and curry. With the bounteous ocean at their doorstep, fresh seafood is almost always on the menu. The dining room and lobby area boasts a lovely open design. Decorated in shades of white and blue, the furnishings are simple, with a few notable exceptions.

PIGEON ISLAND RESORT – BOOKINGS!

In the foyer a hefty wooden elephant stands. It is one of several Jaffna antiques on the premises. In fact, you’ll see the first as you cross the threshold. The exquisitely carved capitals that top the pillars on either side hold up heavy wooden beams. The door once belonged to a great house in Jaffna, says Patrick pointing out the distinctive pattern. Step inside and a worn wooden bench, tinged a faint green sits under a mirror. Taken from a railway station, it sits opposite a credible imitation piece, with its own identical mirror. A wooden staircase with thick railings is yet another antique, and Patrick estimates its age at around 150 years. The most dramatic of the lot though may be a wooden hackery parked near the bar. A family heirloom, the cart belonged to proprietor Dr. Maheshi Wijeratne’s great-grandparents.

A neurosurgeon, she and her husband Nigel Coomaraswamy have refurbished the property. Once known as Hotel Maoura Beach, it has been carefully restored to its formal glory. Solar heating and no less than three water treatment plants are already in service, but Patrick assures me that there’s a lot more to come. There are plans to build a conference hall and a few gift stores. Construction begins on a sports bar and lounge area this week. Currently they have 38 deluxe rooms and 6 suites. The suites boast views of the ocean, while most of the rooms look out onto the pool deck. Done up in cool white, the rooms are spacious. Large beds with headboards imbedded with blue mosaic make for striking centrepieces. The air-conditioned rooms come equipped with minibars and satellite T.V.

The 2 ½ acre property is long and lean, with the building sitting in an ‘L’ shape along it. Seeming to invite the beach in, a poolside bar has its floor covered in sand. A little board carries the name of the cocktail of the day, tempting you to linger and catch the sunset. Stay a little longer and you can enjoy the sight of fishing boats, strung out along the horizon like a line of twinkling Christmas lights. The beach is the perfect location for a romantic dinner, and Patrick explains that the hotel often organises bonfires and music nights out under the stars.

Describing barbeques on the beach and dinners beside the pool deck, he emphasises the staff’s willingness to go the extra mile.

PIGEON ISLAND RESORT – GET BEST RATES!

Numbering over 50, the staff keep the property immaculate. They’re also fun to get to know. Henry is a great guide to the region and has an inexhaustible store of stories. My favourites proved to be of his memories of the way Trincomalee used to be (but you can also ask him about Arthur C. Clarke, whom he met several times). He says they scour the beach on a regular basis, clearing debris that is washed ashore by the tide.

They’re determined to keep the surrounds pristine – a task that is likely to only get more challenging in the years ahead. In the meantime, Trincomalee is still one of the most beautiful spots on the island. Henry, for one, cannot imagine that he and the others who call it home will ever allow that to change.

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka not overpriced says Taj Hotels MD

(By Jagdish Hathiramani) — In contrast to many other long haul destinations, including islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, other Asian countries and even Australasia, which are its main competitors, Sri Lanka offers good value, according to veteran international hotelier Raymond Bickson, the Managing Director of Indian Hotel Company, the parent of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.

Indicating this value for money was an advantage for the country when competing with more mature markets, he suggested that it was a positive that Sri Lanka had managed to not over-price itself and so offered something for any budget. Meanwhile, visitors to the Maldives, for example, were hard pressed to find a place to stay for under $500. Mr. Bickson made these comments to the Business Times during a visit last week to Sri Lanka that entailed the local launch of the group’s new brand architecture, which now spans the 110 properties of this $300 million turnover hotel group, which also has 47 projects currently in development worth $3 billion. Sri Lanka is just the most recent stop in Mr. Bickson’s itinerary which, in 2011, will include opening 13 hotels, one almost every three weeks, including Taj’s first property in China.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, hotel officials also revealed that locally managed properties, comprising the Taj Samudra in Colombo, the Taj Airport Gardens in Seeduwa and the Taj Exotica in Bentota, would all be in line for significant investments in keeping with Taj’s local re-branding. Already earmarked, $35 million for a 2011 renovation of the 300-room Taj Samudra and US$ 5 million for a full revamp of Taj’s 160-room Bentota property, already re-branded as Vivanta by Taj Bentota, that will eventually entail completely new interiors and even an added restaurant. Additionally, the Taj-managed, Hirdaramani Group-owned 130-room Taj Airport Gardens will undergo an upgrade of 40 existing rooms, while a new 100-room wing will also be added within the next two years. This property will ‘migrate’ to Taj’s “The Gateway Hotel” brand in January 2011.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Bickson, the Sri Lankan government was making the right moves to facilitate tourism, including a positive advertising campaign and opening the doors to the right investors. He also commended a government plan to extend the existing single runway in addition to constructing a second runway at Sri Lanka’s only international airport at Katunayake, as well as eventually commissioning two more airports. At the same time, while reiterating his group’s interest in opportunities in the island’s Eastern and Western coastal regions, he also suggested that cultural, wild life, religious and medical tourism were also possible future areas of interest for Taj in Sri Lanka. He also floated the possibility of opening up a locally based hotel school in the next two years; a practice that Taj employed when going into new markets where inadequate staff supplies could be an issue.

Bahamas

Snorkelling Adventure in Nassau, Bahamas

BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

From £40.85
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Rating: 4.5 star based on 27 reviews

Ever wanted to snorkel with sharks? On this adventure you’ll swim with schools of colorful fish in the shallows of Nassau’s famous reefs. Then, if your fellow passengers have the nerve, it’s off to snorkel with one of the most magnificent and misunderstood creatures of the sea – sharks!

Inclusions:

* Choice of morning or afternoon departure
* Snorkel gear included – The use of mask, fins, snorkel, and snorkel vest
* Family friendly
* Fresh drinking water and ice
* Hotel pickup and drop off
* Conducted in English

Just minutes after leaving Nassau you’ll be snorkelling through an undersea extravaganza of living coral and tropical marine life. Your captain will choose two of the clearest and calmest locations on the day to begin your snorkelling adventure.

Then, if the weather permits, you’ll go for a snorkel with your guide as sharks swim calmly below you. Or, if you prefer, you can watch the sharks being fed from the boat. Sharks are one of the most fascinating marine animals you will ever see, and on this cruise you’ll see them up close and personal in perfect safety.

Please note that pickup times commence prior to tour departure. Click on view map below for approximate pickup schedule.

Participant requirements:

* Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
* Children under the age of four not permitted
* Participants must have good physical health

Schedule

Departure Point: Tours depart from Southwest Bay Street, Nassau or near the cruise ship terminal.
Departure Time: 9:30am & 1:30pm – Hotel pickups commence prior to this time, you must contact the local service provider to verify your exact pick up time.

For additional information and bookings GO HERE!

I was SO excited to go on this adventure. When we got to our first stop though, I got nervous as I’m not the best swimmer. But they have staff in the water to make sure you’re safe and the crew are really friendly and helpful. ESPECIALLY the captain, Clee-J, he was so funny! I always felt safe once I got over my fear and wished I could have stayed all day! At one point, another customer asked if we might see starfish. One of the crew went to the trouble of going out and “hunting” for one and brought it on board for everyone to see! Talk about service!

Reviewed by: T Daphne K, Canada

BOOK HOTELS IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS – HERE!

Bahamas

Exuma Powerboat Adventure in Nassau, Bahamas

BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

From £125.10
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Rating: 5 star based on 16 reviews

Leaving the hustle-bustle of Nassau behind, take a high-powered cruise to your own private island in the Exuma chain. You’ll ride a powerboat to Allens Cay to feed endangered iguanas then take an exhilarating, high-speed run to your private Bahamas island, Ship Channel Cay.

Inclusions:

* Snorkel gear included
* Free drinks included – full bar
* Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
* Nature trek
* Shark, stingray and iguana feeding
* Visit to a private island
* Hotel pickup and drop off
* Buffet-style lunch
* Conducted in English

The tiny island is only two miles long and half a mile wide (around 3 kilometres long and 1 kilometre wide), with spectacular views in every direction. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the island, or just kick back on the golden beaches.

If you feel like snorkelling, there is an amazing drift snorkel just a short distance from the shoreline. You can take a guided snorkel over the myriad corals and watch tiny fish feeding in the untouched, vibrantly coloured reefs. Or perhaps you’d like to try your hand at feeding local stingrays and sharks!

Grab a drink from the island bar, then sit down to a banquet of delicious freshly caught island grouper, served with fresh salads, tasty breads, char-grilled steak, tropical fruit platters, chips, dips and other delights. The fully stocked bar (included) has something for every taste, and will keep you refreshed!

After lunch, take a nature tour of the island with guides who will entertain you with colourful tales from the bush. Or take a romantic walk by the water’s edge or go for a refreshing dip in the cool, turquoise water. Numerous decks provide a place to sit, chat or just watch the world go by while sipping a cool drink under a giant umbrella.

Sadly, all too soon the time will come to leave Ship Channel Cay for Nassau town, but don’t worry, the memories will last a lifetime!

Special Offer – For a limited time only, the price displayed includes a discount off the recommended retail rate – BOOK NOW!

Schedule

Departure Point: Tour departs from Nassau town hotels. Pickup is not available from the cruise ship port however pick-up is available from the Hilton hotel which is approx. 5 – 10 minute walk from the cruise ship dock

Departure Time: Hotel pick-up commences at 8:00am from the Cable Beach area and from 8:30am from Paradise Island

Return Details: Returns to original departure point at approximately 6:00pm

For additional information and bookings GO HERE!

Probably the best part of our trip to Nassau. My wife and I had a great time. The island was amazing, the crew was awesome, the boat was in good shape and clean, and the sting ray’s and shark’s were sick! Oh, and the beer was really cold!

Reviewed by: Nathan W, USA

BOOK HOTELS IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS – HERE!

Bahamas

Rose Island Snorkel and Day Cruise from Nassau

BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

From £37.75
Location: Nassau, Bahamas
Rating: 4 star based on 30 reviews

Enjoy a scenic boat ride on a triple deck catamaran and travel Nassau’s picturesque waters en route to Rose Island. Head towards this remote island and take part in various beach and water activities. With stunning nature and tropical fish, Rose Island offers something for the entire family!

Inclusions:

* Snorkel gear included
* Free drinks included
* Travel by boat and see the sights from the water
* Catamaran cruise
* Visit to a private island
* Hotel pickup and drop off
* Buffet-style lunch
* Conducted in English

You’ll have the opportunity to snorkel over the coral reefs and take amazing pictures of the local, tropical aquatic life. Or, you can spend the day on land relaxing on a sun-drenched beach or exploring the island’s winding paths and tidal pools!

When you are hungry, your guide will prepare lunch for you. Savor the local flavors of a sumptuous lunch buffet accompanied by two fully stocked cash bars.

After lunch, stretch out in a hammock under a palm or have a cocktail and enjoy magnificent island views from the palm-shaded deck. There are also several activities (not included in tour price) such as guided snorkeling tours and fish feeding shows which you could participate in.

As you cruise homeward, enjoy a cocktail on Majestic Lady’s upper deck after a perfect day on a remote Caribbean island!

Schedule

Departure Point: Hotel pick-up is available from:

* Cable Beach Hotels – 9:00am
* Down Town (Hilton British Colonial Hotel) – 9:15am
* Paradise Island Hotels – 9:30am
* Cruise ship pier – 9:15am at the Hilton British Colonial Hotel

Departure Time: 10:00am
Return Details: Returns to original departure point at approximately 4:30pm

For additional information and bookings GO HERE!

This was the last adventure excursion I did on my vacation. It made me want to move here! I’ve even been researching trying to find out the process to work and live there for six months. The value for the fee paid was AMAZING. Charming details such as hammocks set up to relax in almost anywhere you wanted, snorkelling available, I did the kayaking and it was GREAT!!! Then relaxing at the beach bar after kayaking, making new friends, sigh…. I’ll be back for sure! I recommend saving this excursion for last, otherwise you might want to stay on Rose Island and never leave!

Reviewed by: T Daphne K, Canada

BOOK HOTELS IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS – HERE!

Bahamas

Freeport Half-Day Tour

BOOK THIS TOUR – CLICK HERE!

From £22.00
Location: Freeport, Bahamas
Rating: 5 star based on 3 reviews

Explore the riches of ‘Millionaires Row’ to the duty-free shopping at the only distillery on the Grand Bahamas Island on this Freeport City Tour. Visit an open air fruit market, see the home of international entertainer Count Basie and stroll through the Garden of the Groves – a 12 acre (48,000 sq. km) park with winding paths, cascading waterfalls and a picturesque chapel on a hill in addition to many flora and fauna from all around the world!

Inclusions:

* 3-hour guided tour
* Hotel pickup and drop off
* Conducted in English

For a great overview of Freeport, take this relaxing half-day tour of Grand Bahamas most vibrant city. From views of the island’s up-market homes to shopping at the International Bazaar, you’ll see all the highlights of Grand Bahamas commercial capital.

The tour takes you to Millionaire’s Row, Grand Bahamas version of Beverly Hills. You’ll visit a conch vendor and find out how to make conch salad before travelling to Freeport’s open-air fruit market.

Travelling a little further west, you’ll see the deep-water harbour and the only distillery on the island where you can purchase liquor at duty-free prices.

Visit the home of international entertainer Count Basie before ending the Freeport tour with some shopping at the market place.

Schedule

Departure Point: Tour commences with pick up at your Freeport hotel or the Port
Departure Time: 9:00am & 1:00pm
Return Details: Returns to original departure point

For additional information and bookings GO HERE!

Great trip. The guide was very informative, gardens were lovely and the guide there was terrific. Very happy with our choice of this tour.

Reviewed by: Evelyn C, USA

BOOK HOTELS IN FREEPORT – HERE!

Thailand

Bloggers invited to compete for prizes in Thailand Medical…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Medical Tourism Blog Contest kicks off with cash and prizes worth nearly US$20,000 up for grabs, including a seven-day all-inclusive medical tour of Thailand for 12 finalists.

The competition is easy and fun, with the aim to promote medical tourism in the Kingdom by awarding winning contestants trips to the Land of Smiles and other prizes.

Twelve finalists chosen from the entries will win an experience of a lifetime: an all-inclusive seven-day Medical Tourism Familiarization Trip in Thailand, which will take place from November 20-26, 2010. Some of them will travel to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Ko Samui, while others will explore Bangkok. The TAT will arrange additional sightseeing tours for finalists so they can experience the attractions of Thailand as a medical tourism hub.

During the competition period from November 20, 2010 to January 31, 2011, each finalist will use blog posts, photos, videos and other social media tools to share their daily experiences with the medical services available in Thailand with a global audience. The goal is to inform readers about what is available and to persuade them to learn more about Thailand’s top medical tourism destinations.

In order to win, finalists must write the best blog post and attract the highest number of unique visitors. The blogger who attracts the most unique visitors to their URL will win the top prize of $13,000 ($10,000 in cash plus luxurious hotel vouchers worth $3,000 at Sri Panwa, Phuket and Westin Grande, Bangkok), and the finalist who the judging committee decides has created the best blog will receive prizes worth $5,000 ($3,000 in cash plus luxurious hotel vouchers worth $2,000 at Ratilanna Riverside Spa Resort, Chiang Mai and Absolute Chandara Resort and Spa, Phuket).

The competition is open to anyone who has experience writing blogs related to tourism or medical tourism in English language or containing English language. To enter, visit: www.MedBlogContest.com

This is a great opportunity to discover firsthand why Thailand has become one of the world’s top destinations for medical tourism.

Submissions are welcome until October 31, 2010.

For media enquiries, please go to the *Contact Us* page and select the subject Press Media Enquiry. A team member will contact you shortly after your submission is received.**”

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