Long Island Coastal Homes

If your looking for a city with a fun laid back atmosphere and plenty of sunshine then it’s hard to go past Brisbane. Brisbane is the state capital for Queensland and is located roughly half way along the East coast of Australia. It enjoys a sub-tropical climate so it’s fairly warm all year round without quite the same extremes of the tropical north. Brisbane has really moved on in the past few years to add more in the way of great shopping, nightlife and places to eat. The city with a population of nearly two million is alos a good base to explore nearby coastal areas such as the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

Getting there: From within Australia you can easily reach Brisbane by air or road. Brisbane airport is well served by all the major domestic airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar. It’s about a ninety minute flight from Sydney to Brisbane and around two hours from Melbourne. Travelling by road is possible by car or coach but it’s at least ten hours driving so it’s a good idea to split the trip up if you can. A couple of great places to stay on that strecth of coast include Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. If you’re coming to Brisbane from overseas then the airport is well served with direct flights from Asia and connections from other parts of the world such as Europe and the US. Airlines that fly into Brisbane include Singapore airlines, Emirates, Qantas and Cathay Pacific. Once you land you can either get the Air train into the city or catch a taxi which will take around 20-25 minutes to get into the city.

Getting Around: Once your in Brisbane then it’s easy to get around the central areas by foot or public transport. The public transport is operated under the name of TransLink and allows the use of a single ticket for bus, rail and ferry. Make sure you explore the river using the fast and smooth City Cat catamaran ferries. If your Brisbane accommodation is located in the city centre or inner city areas such as South bank or Fortitude Valley then you should be able to get round the city centre areas on foot. The CBD area of the city is fairly compact. However, if you need to get further away from the centre then Brisbane sprawls out a long way and you may find car rental a good option. There are many Brisbane car rental companies to choose from including all the big names and a number of local low cost operators. A word of warning. If you choose a low cost car rental firm then read the small print in detail. A couple of the firms charge admin and other fees in the event you cause damage to the car and hide this in reams of small print on the contract.

What to do: Brisbane has plenty to do but here are a few suggestions to get you started. * Explore the river via the Citycat ferries. Stand on the front or rear outside sections to get the best views of the multi-million dollar riverfront homes and apartments along the river. Places to stop include New Farm Park where you can enjoy the large park, go for a game of ‘bare foot bowls’ at the local club or visit the famous farmers markets (2nd & 4th Saturdays each month). Towards the end of the trip down river hop off at the Bretts Wharf stop and take the ten minute riverside walk to Portside Wharf the new cruise ship terminal which also has some excellent riverside restaurants and a Dendy cinema. * Visit Southbank Parklands on the other side of the river to the city. Stretching along the river for over a kilometre this area is home to great cafes and restaurants, Streets beach which is an artificial beach and lagoon which is free all year round and is home to the cultural heart of Brisbane with the performing arts centre, galleries and museums. * Visit the eat street areas of the inner city suburbs of West End, Paddington and Oxford Street in Bulimba. * Shop on the Queen Street Mall in the CBD which features a great range of stores including department stores Myer and David Jones. * Play a game of bare foot bowls at Merthyr Bowls Club on Oxlade Drive in New Farm. Access is easy via the Citycat ferry using the New Farm Parklands stop. * Head east to Moreton Bay and take a ferry over to North Stradbroke Island, one of the largest sand islands in the world and home to some great beaches. * Use Brisbane as a base for nearby destinations such as the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Australia Zoo which is one hour north of Brisbane by road.

Where to stay: There is a wide range of Brisbane accommodation on offer. The good news is that much of the Brisbane accommodation on offer is of a very good standard and good value.

At the top end of the price scale you have the usual big chain hotels such as the Sofitel, Hilton and Marriot. These have the advantages of good location and facilities though value for money is sometimes not as good as the alternatives.

Using self contained accommodation is an excellent option for Brisbane accommodation and the city offers a good number of quality apartments for holiday rentals. There are a good number of serviced apartments available in the city centre and nearby areas such as South bank parklands. If your a family and might need more than one hotel room then serviced apartments with 2 or 3 bedrooms tend to offer excellent value. The apartments offer bedrooms, separate living areas with a full kitchen. As well as getting much more space than a hotel room you can also save money by cooking some of your meals in the kitchen rather than having to east every meal out.

When to go: Almost any time of the year is good for a visit to Brisbane as it has a warm sub-tropical climate and over three hundred days of sunshine per year. If you are used to colder climates then you may find the summer months of December to February a little hot. The temperatures during these months often range between 28c and 34c as well as being humid. These summer months are also the wettest. You don’t tend to get many dull and dreary days with rain though. Typically they come in the form of thunderstorms that build up during the day and are short but sharp!

The time of year I enjoy the month are Spring and Autumn as it’s still nice and warm but with less of the humidity and storms that come with summer. Winter in Brisbane is not exactly cold either. Winter is the driest time in Brisbane so expect a good number of sunny days. In the winter then it does get cooler at night with temperatures often hitting single digits but the average maximum temperature in the day is still in the low twenties.

Brisbane is increaslingly a popular destination for Australian and international travellers so make sure you make it part of your trip.

Rich Greenwood
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/brisbane-guide-688538.html

The one hundred and thirty seven islands, islets and shoals that make up the Hawaiian Island chain sit at the northern tip of the Polynesian Triangle, an expanse of ocean roughly the size of Europe and North America combined. As one of the most geographically isolated, continuously populated spots on Earth, Hawaii is a land of many contrasts.

Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, is nicknamed The Big Island because it is twice the combined size of the other islands.

Big Island has an area of more than four thousand square miles with nearly three hundred miles of coastline, ninety three miles long by seventy six miles wide. Big Island is located in Polynesia near the centre of the Pacific Ocean just below the Tropic of Cancer one of the most remote spots on Earth.

The population had a resident population of 162,971 in 2004. It is the second most populous island in the State. Approximately 1.5 million visitors visited in 2005.

The first visitors to the Islands of Hawaii came not knowing what to expect or even that the Islands existed. It is generally believed Hawaiis first permanent inhabitants sailed in voyaging canoes from the southern hemisphere islands of the Marquesas, between 300 and 800 A.D. Later waves of settlers arrived by the 12th century, this time from Tahiti.

All Hawaiian Islands have a dry side and a wet side. The windward east side of each island attracts more annual rainfall. The leeward west side is always the drier area of the island.

The Big Island has a wide variety of plant, marine and animal life. Many species are rare and endangered including the giant Pacific Green Sea Turtle, the Nene Goose and the Humpback Whale. Vegetation zones include coastal, dry land forest, mixed open forest, rain forest and alpine.

The economy was healthy in 2006. Key indicators are positive for continuing growth in the second half of this decade. However, Hawaiis cost of living is among the highest in the nation and its 2004 per capita personal income below average. In fact, sources indicate a cost of living ranging from 30 percent above the national average to over 60 percent depending upon family size and circumstances.

Big Island was formed by five volcanoes. Two are still active Mauna Loa and Kilauea, the worlds most continuously active volcano. At 13,796 feet and 13,677 feet respectively, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are the highest mountains in the Pacific.

Douglas Scott
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/largest-of-the-hawaiian-islands-139835.html

If you’re looking for an adventure that is physically active yet relaxing, mentally stimulating and spiritually uplifting, diving amid the wonders of a coral reef may be the ultimate answer. But where should you go, especially if you have a taste for something and somewhere a bit out of the way?

Here are four corners of paradise for the discerning reef diver, which are teeming with wondrous wildlife but not yet with truckloads of tourists.

ERITREA

Eritrea has perfect coral reefs untouched by humans and teeming with aquatic life in all the colours of the rainbow. At the bottom of the sea you’ll find sunken wrecks, ships, tanks, rocket launchers and even a complete dry dock. In the Dahlak coral reefs you can find 250 species of fish, as well as sharks, dolphins, barracuda, tuna, caranx – narrow-bodied fish with widely forked tails – and dugong, the near extinct sea cow. Dugong are large enough not to have many predators; on the other hand, they have a long life span and are slow breeders, which make them vulnerable to threats. See them while you can. You need a visa to visit Eritrea. There are good hotels to stay in but sleeping on the beach is free and fun.

BELIZE

The Barrier Reef off Ambergris Caye (island) lies about a kilometre off the windward side of the island. At about 300 km, it is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.

Inside the reef the water is shallow and blue-tinged; outside the reef, the water is deep and seen from the air looks a dark royal blue. Near Ambergris Caye the reef almost touches land and here it is a magnificent, almost so!id wall of coral formations, broken only by narrow channels called “quebradas”. The coral is astonishing in its endless variety of shapes and colours: rainbow-tinged tropical fish, delicate sea fans, sponges and gorgeous coral gardens.

Beyond the reef, the seabed drops sharply in a series of layers to enormous depths, where gamefish such as mackerel, tuna, sailfish and marlin.

To the east of the Barrier Reef there are three separate atoll reefs, which run northeast-southwest and are separated by deep marine trenches. Just to the north, in Mexican waters, is a fourth atoll reef, Banco Chinchorro, where there are abundant wrecks to explore. UK-based operator AwimAway.com (020 7430 1766, www.awimaway.com) an adventure specialist undertakes some interesting tours to the region.

SOUTH AFRICA

Tropical sunshine and the warm Aughlas current have allowed the formation of a unique coral reef at Sodwana, about 400 km north of Durban near the Mozambique border. The reef is home to over 1200 species of reef fish and also hosts visits from mantas, whale sharks, Zambezi sharks, humpback whales and dolphins.

Sodwana Bay – the name means “little one on its own” in Zulu – is one of the most popular of the dive sites, being easily accessible by road from Durban and enjoying temperatures averaging a pleasant 24°–28°C. There are many shallow coastal pools suitable for snorkelling, with interesting reef formations and fish life. Check out with www.awimaway.com for your customised tour to the region.

AUSTRALIA

Yes, of course there’s the Great Barrier Reef, but for something a bit different, think about Ningaloo Reef, which is off the town of Exmouth, pretty much as far west as you can go in Australia (flights from Perth daily).

Ningaloo Reef is a fringing, rather than a barrier reef, because it is quite close to the shore and only shallow water separates land and reef. This intricate reef system stretches over 260 km and, at some points, is only metres from the beach. It is home to myriad marine animals, including the largest fish in the world, the rare whale shark, some specimens of which grow to 18 metres in length. Whale shark visit the Ningaloo Reef between March and June looking for plankton to eat. Humpback whales, manta rays and green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles can also be seen in their season.

The little damselfish, which hide in the coral, the colourful and conspicuous wrasses, the exquisitely patterned and graceful butterflyfish and the similarly gorgeous angelfish, abundant cardinalfish and parrotfish all contribute to making this an environment of rare splendour, impressive as a diving destination all year round.

Harish Kohli
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/diving-paradises-on-four-continents-115121.html

What makes Quebec special?

Quebec has a rich and long history spanning five centuries. In 1534, Jacques Cartier, under an expedition sent by King Francis I, landed in Gaspe and claimed the lands for France. The Algonkian, Iroquoian, and Inuit natives initially populated the Quebec area, but Quebec City was not officially founded until 1603 by Samuel de Champlain. This region was governed as a French Royal Province and was known as New France. However, when the French were defeated in the French-Indian War, France’s agreement in the 1763 Treaty of Paris gave its provinces in North American to Great Britain. Thus, New France became the Province of Quebec.

Today, Quebec’s official language is still French, and it is the only province in Canada that is populated by a majority of French Canadians. French, not English, is spoken as the main language in the province. Quebec has also grown to be the largest province in Canada, with the large majority of its population living near the St. Lawrence River.

Quebec’s historical and present-day multiculturalism is evident through its celebration of the crossroads of cultures. Quebec can be compared to the melting pot between the Americas and Europe, with a population that has strong ties to France, the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. There is a deep creative energy that runs throughout the province, which is experienced through plays, festivals, operas, sculptures, art galleries, paintings, and cultural festivals.

The interesting history and various cultural influences on Quebec make the area a very unique place to visit. The St. Lawrence River is a majestic landmark which shapes much of the life in Quebec. The Quartier Petit-Champlain, which is on the shore of the St. Lawrence River, is home to the oldest street, church, and commercial district in all of North America. Old Quebec City is also a historical area, as it is the only walled city that exists north of Mexico. The area retains its history with its cobblestone streets and 17th and 18th century architecture. Within Quebec City stands the Château Frontenac, which is one of the most photographed landmarks in all of Canada. Opened in 1893, its chateau style architecture exudes both historical charm and luxury.

Toronto

Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the entire world. With more than 100 languages spoken in the city, it is home to essentially all cultural and ethnic groups. Approximately 52% of Torontonians are immigrants, while another 22% are second generation immigrants. This cultural diversity is symbolically represented by the presence of five Chinatowns, little Italy, a Greek community, Little Portugal, and India Bazaar in Toronto.

Within Ontario, there are several interesting landmarks that demonstrate the history and culture of Toronto. Ontario Place was created to enhance the potential of Toronto’s waterfront through Lake Ontario. Spanning three man-made islands, Ontario Place exists as cultural, leisure, and entertainment park within a five pod pavilion complex. It houses an IMAX theater, amphitheatre, water park, look-out areas, amusement rides, and many other attractions. Ontario Place is symbolic of the revitalization efforts made by the government and people of Toronto to ensure that the waterfront would turn away from industrial pollution and instead focus on promoting a lake-culture.

Over 52 million people annually visit Downtown Yonge, which brims with shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and businesses. As the longest street in the world, Yonge connects Toronto with the surrounding suburbs. Surveyed in 1793, Yonge Street has been host to countless cultural and historical events surrounding Toronto. As a prominent landmark of Yonge Street, the Maple Leaf Gardens housed the NHL team, which was sold out for every single game between 1946 through the final game in 1999. Old City Hall, the Mackenzie House, and the Church of the Holy Trinity are all historical landmarks of Yonge Street that represent its mighty origins and development.

Vancouver

In 1824, Hudson’s Bay Company developed fur-trading posts along the Pacific slope, and James McMillan led a scouting party throughout the area to find proper locations. In 1827, McMillan and a crew of 25 returned back to the area, marked by a prominent tree north of the interior of Fraser River, to create a trading outpost. Thus, this marked the birth of Greater Vancouver. Subsequent trading posts, farms, and mills sprang up around this area as families migrated to the area seeking a better, more prosperous life.

Gastown, the birthplace of Vancouver, was established in the same year that Canada officially became a country. In 1867, John Deighton, also known as “Gassy” Jack for his conversational skills, opened a saloon catering to the workers of Hasting Mill, which was written by W. Kaye Lamb as “the nucleus around which the city of Vancouver grew up in the 1880s.” From that first saloon, Gastown grew into the third largest city of Canada, as well as developed into the most cosmopolitan areas of the country. Despite all of the changes of modernity, Gastown still retains its historical charm and unique spirit.

The popularity of immigration to Vancouver has made the city one of the most multi-ethnic in Canada. A study by Statistics Canada reveals that Vancouver holds the highest percentage of visible minority communities of all of the provinces in Canada. According to the study, by 2017, one out of every three people living in British Columbia will be of a visible minority descent. Vancouver certainly retains the reputation as being one of the most culturally integrated cities in the world. With more interracial couples and lower levels of culturally defined residential segregation, Vancouver is certainly Canada’s most diverse and integrated city.

There is a strong Asian influence in Vancouver. Chinese-Canadians comprise 16% of the total population of Vancouver, which is the highest percentage of residents of Chinese descent in all North American cities. Between the years 1991 to 2001, Chinese residents in Vancouver grew by 86%, according to the census. The prevalence of the Chinese culture is evidenced through the large spectrum of regional, authentic Chinese restaurants in the city. Many families choose to immigrate to Vancouver because of the city’s significant Asian influence. Other prominent Asian ethnic groups include the Filipino, Cambodians, Japanese, and Vietnamese.

Fishing in British Columbia

British Columbia sports the Sunshine Coast, which is renowned for excellent fishing and great weather. This region is surrounded by the Coastal Mountains, with a protected coastline spanning 175 kilometers from Howe to Desolation Sound on the Strait of Georgia.

For sport fishing, the Georgia Strait is an ideal location, as Vancouver Island protects the waters from any tumultuousness of the open sea. Additionally, with the number of islands surrounding the areas, the Georgia Strait is sheltered and free from the swells and fogs of the Pacific Ocean. The prevalence of bottom fish fishery makes the Sunshine Coast popular as well. Red snappers, ling cod, rock cod, tommy cod, and flounder are mostly available for fishing year-round. The fishing for bottom fish is plentiful in many areas of the Sunshine Coast, including Halfmoon Bay, Seal Reef, Bucaneer Bay, Secret Cove, Lasqueti Island, Bejji Shoals, Bargain Harbour, and Texada Island.

Chinook salmon can be fished year-round at many resorts along the Sunshine Coast, such as the Secret Cove, Powell River, and Pender Harbour. In the winter, fisherman can catch feeder Chinooks, while springtime presents the migratory Chinooks. The optimal season for Chinook and Coho salmon fishing is between June and September, while Chum salmon is optimal during September and October. Between mid-September and late October, the spring salmon is plentiful for fishing at the Lang Creek Estuary, which is south of the Powell River and approximately 22 kilometers north of Saltery Bay. The salmon caught in this area during the time period can range between 9 to 23 kilograms.

There are also great locations for fly fishing surface-feeding trout. Hotel Lake, Mixal Lake, Trout Lake, and Garden Bay Lake, are all optimal areas for fly fishing, with March being a great month to catch trout.

Fishing in Ontario

Ontario’s 250,000 inland lakes and shorelines on four of the Great Lakes makes the province an excellent fishing location, with its muskellunge waters and walleye fishery being the most popular aspects for fishers. However, there are 158 species of freshwater fish that live in Ontario waters, with the following being the most prevalent: walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, Lake Trout, Brooke trout, Chinook Salmon, and lake whitefish.

Rice Lake, with its weedy cover and algae production, is renowned for its ample supply of largemouth bass. Two and three pound bass are quite common, and they can even range up to seven pounds. Additionally, Big Rideau Lake, Georgian Bay, Bay of Quinte, Lake Simcoe, Tri-Lakes, Lake St. Francis, Rowan Lake, Weslemkoon Lake, and Lake Scugog are great locations for bass fishing.

The Grand River is considered one of the best places to fly fish for brown and rainbow trout, but the fish is ample throughout the entire province. From the streams of the south to the lakes of the central area and extending to the northern rivers, trout is easily caught throughout the province.

The Chinook salmon is most prevalent in the Great Lakes by the Greater Toronto Area. The walleye are also found in the Great Lakes, but can also be fished in the wild waters of Northern Ontario down to the reservoirs of the southern area of the province.

Fishing in Quebec

Walleye, pickerel, perch, pike, speckled trout, lake trout, and Atlantic salmon are all prevalent throughout Quebec. With the great forests and thousands of lakes and rivers, Quebec is an excellent province for fishing enthusiasts. Because of the pristine condition of its natural resources, Quebec is often considered “La Belle Province,” which provides one of the best opportunities for sports fishing in Canada. Especially in the rivers and lakes of James Bay in northwestern Quebec, the trout, pike, and walleye are easy catches for fishermen. Between the spring and fall seasons, angling is best in the thousands of lakes and rivers throughout Quebec. The optimal times for walleye are between late July and early August.

Atlantic salmon is best in the eastern region of the province, while fishing in Central Quebec will reap an abundance of speckled trout. Julian and Craven Lakes, the Roggan River, Seal River, and their offshoot rivers are considered the best areas for trout fishing.

Fishing in Labrador

Known as one of the last unspoiled frontiers of Canada, Labrador is an ideal location for fishing enthusiasts. With hundreds of public rivers, Labrador is an excellent province for catching trout and salmon.

Awesome Lake provides an ample area for sport fishing, especially for Brook trout. Exploits River, a Class 1 river, is grounds for some of the best Atlantic salmon fishing in all of Canada, with a run of over 30,000 fish. August is the optimal time for fishing in the Exploits River, which flows through Windsor-Grand Falls.

Humber River, which is approximately 16 kilometers north of Corner Brook, is a great location for fishing big salmon between the optimal times of August and October. As a Class 1 river, Humber is home to literally thousands of jumping salmon during the peak season of August and September.

Eagle River is the largest river in all of Labrador, and it is a superb location for ample salmon fishing. Its catch number is three times the amount of other comparable rivers in Canada.

Fishing and Hunting in the Yukon: the Last Frontier

The Yukon, known to be the last frontier, is an excellent province for outdoor enthusiasts. Considered to be an untouched, pristine province, whose seclusion is only matched by Northern Russia, the Yukon has ample fishing and hunting for both rare and popular species. The Artic grayling, northern pike, and lake trout are abundant in the icy lakes and streams of the Yukon. Additionally, the rare inconnu and Arctic char can be fished throughout the rivers that flow throughout the Yukon, which is one of the world’s most remote and untouched locations.

Wolf Lake, one of the most secluded lakes in Yukon, is known for its excellent supply of trophy trout. With very low fishing pressure, there is an ample supply of trophy trout that can be caught through fly fishing; with the shallow bottom of the lake, Wolf Lake is certainly a paradise to fly fish trophy trout.

At the Tagish Bridge Site, which is located where the Six Mile River enters into Marsh Lake, there exists ample Lake Trout, Whitefish, Lake Cisco, and Arctic Grayling for the fishing enthusiast. Other great fishing locations for the trout, grayling, and pike can be found in many regions across the Yukon, such as Watson Lake, Daughney Lake, Morley Lake and River, Marsh Lake, Kusawa Lake, Pine Lake, Kloo Lake, Kluane Lake, and Pickhandle Lake.

The environment and dense forests of the Yukon provide hunters with a plentiful supply of game, including caribou, black and grizzly bear, wolf, mountain bighorn sheep, moose, and mountain goat. In the Yukon Territory, there is an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 grizzly bears. The Alaska-Yukon moose is very popular because it is the largest size out of all the subspecies.

A popular region is the Yukon corridor, which has an abundance of Dall sheep and deer. Another plentiful region is the South Nahanni Outfit with its sheep, goats, caribous, Dall rams, moose, bears, and wolves that all live plentifully in the secluded region. Between July 15th and the middle of August, this is the optimal time for hunting Dall sheep in the Mackenzie mountains.

References

Baglole, Joel. Bisetty, Krisendra. “Cultural Shift Takes Aim at British Columbia.” The Vancouver Sun, March 23, 2005.

British Columbia, Canada. “BC Sport Fishing – Sunshine Coast, British Columbia.” British Columbia Tourism Travel Guide. Available at http://www.britishcolumbia.com/

City of Toronto. “Diversity.” City of Toronto. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chateaufrontenac-quebec-canada-rs.jpg

Davis, Chuck. A Brief History of Greater Vancouver. Greater Vancouver Book. Vancouver: Linkman Press, 1997.

Department of Tourism and Culture. “Fishing in the Yukon.” Government of Yukon. Available at http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/yukonfishing/default.html

Department of Tourism and Culture. “Fishing in the Yukon – Locations and Species Found” Government of Yukon. Available at http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/yukonfishing/fishare.html

Downtown Yonge B.I.A. “About Downtown Yonge.” Downtown Yonge. Available at http://www.downtownyonge.com/index.asp?navid=2

Etling, Kathy. Hunting Bears: Black, Brown, Grizzly, Polar Bears. New York: Woods N’ Water, Inc., 2003.

Fishing in Quebec. “Fishing in Quebec.” Available at http://www.fishinginquebec.com/

Gastown. “Gastown History.” Available at http://www.gastown.org/history/index.html

Leacock, Stephen. Ulysses Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler. Toronto: Hunter Publishing, 2006.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. “What Can I Expect to Catch?” Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2003.

Montague, Arthur. “Fishing in Quebec: Trophy Brook and Lake Trout, Walleye, and Northern Pike are Routine Catches for Anglers in Northern Quebec.” Pagewise, 2002.

“Quebec: Providing Emotions Since 1534.” Government of Quebec. Available at http://www.bonjourquebec.com/ca-en/qcaujourdhui0.html

Shockey, Jim. “North America’s Best Bargains.” Petersen’s Hunting, 2005.

Smith, Charlie. “Researcher Reveals Asian Diversity.” Straight. August 4, 2005. Available at http://www.straight.com/article/researcher-reveals-asian-diversity

Statistics Canada. “2001 Community Profiles: Community Highlights for Vancouver.” Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 93F0053XIE, released June 27, 2002.

The Portal of Quebec. “Tourist Guide of Quebec.” QuebecWeb. Available at http://www.quebecweb.com/TOURISME/quebec/introang.html

Wegman, Wil. “Best Largemouth Bass Destinations.” Outdoor Canada. Available at http://www.outdoorcanada.ca/fish/best_largemouth_bass.shtml

Sigurdur Nordal
http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/canadas-provinces-territories-cities-98988.html

Despite a series of terrorist bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005 killing hundreds of tourists and locals hitting the tourism industry hard for short periods, the tropical Indonesian island of Bali is still attracting many vacationing tourists.

Tourists are attracted by the island’s rustic charms, mystical culture and tradition, spectacular tropical sceneries and beautiful white sandy beaches. Many of these tourists are also scuba divers and are in Bali for scuba diving. After all, Bali was voted by several scuba diving magazines as one of the top ten dive location in the world.

Bali have many scuba diving locations where awesome underwater landscape and marine creatures abound. Let’s take a tour of some of Bali’s diving destinations.

Sanur and Nusa Dua – These 2 dive spots are located just 5 minutes away from the shore and therefore are very accessible. Beginners and novice divers will enjoy diving here because of the very gentle current. Visibility depending on seasons is low to moderate. Although hard corals are scarce, the many species of colorful fishes made up for the shortfall. Soft corals and sponges can also be found thriving on the reefs.

Nusa Penida and Lembongan Islands – Drop off reef diving is the main attraction on these islands. It is a 45 minute speedboat ride to the islands. Water visibility is rated as good because the islands are further away from the coast and therefore less polluted. The current here is very strong and experienced divers can enjoy drift diving. Sometimes the current may get too strong and dives may be abandoned.

There is a very good variety of hard corals, colorful sea gorgonian fans and many huge pelagic fishes to see. Highlights of diving here are sightings of huge schools of sweet lips fish, huge hawksbill turtles, sharks and giant manta rays.

Amed and Jemeluk Beach – These dive spots are one and half hour from Denpasar, a popular tourist town. Only experienced divers can dive here because of the strong current. The dives here can be very spectacular because of the long coastal reef, reef slopes and wall diving. Water visibility is moderate to good. This diving location is reputed to be the home of the best hard coral community in Bali.

The Padang Bay – This dive scuba diving location in Bali have a flat bottom seabed and is made up mixed reef and sandy bottom. Because of its close proximity to the shore, the water visibility is rated at best to be moderate. The attractions here are frequent sightings of large triggerfish and blue-spotted stingrays.

Tulamben Wreck Dive – For those who enjoy shipwreck diving, then this is the dive site in Bali that you must not missed. Water visibility here is fair to good and the current is generally gentle. Night dive on this wreck is described by many divers as spectacular.

The wreck was the USS Liberty, sunk in World War 2 by Japanese submarine torpedoes 1942. Since the wreck is so near the beach, scuba divers can simply swim to the wreck from the beach.

These are merely some of the many scuba diving destinations in Bali. For more excellent diving sites, you can check out with the many scuba diving operators when you are in Bali.

Chris Chew
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/scuba-diving-bali-107483.html

An enchanted underwater world

A Pristine string of rugged coral isles, ringed by rainbow coral reefs the reserve offers living coral gardens, sculpted coves, wheeling seabirds, rare turtles, magical dugongs and an underwater world of unbelievable color, discovery and vibrancy. The Reserve is part of Lamu archipelago, a cluster of hot low-lying desert islands that run for some 60km parallel to the coastline of Northern Kenya. The last survivor of one thousand year-old civilization, Lamu was founded by the Arabs in the seventh century and traded for centuries thereafter in ivory, rhino horn and slaves. Today it offers a unique showcase for traditional Swahili culture, a bustling historical town with some of the most pristine beaches in Africa.

The Kiunga Marine National Reserve is made up of a chain of 51 coral islands lying some 2 km offshore of the fringing reef. They run adjacent to the mainland Dodori and Boni National Reserves. Varying in size, the islands are composed of old, eroded coral and shelter lesser kudu, bushbuck, monkey, porcupine and wild pig.

Reefs, the rainforest of the sea

Coral reefs are one of the most fascinating ecosystems on earth, sheltering nearly one million different types of marine life. Forming only in warm seas, corals are made by battalions of tiny polyps, miniscule sea anemone-like creatures that live together in colonies, some create a hard skeleton outside their bodies which eventually forms into stony coral. Corals come in many shapes, sizes and colours including the open-branched stag shorn coral, the pincushion-like acropora coral, the wavy-branched plate-like pavona coral, the massively solid favia coral and the convoluted brain coral.

Activity Options

Diving and Snorkeling paradise

Thw best time for snorkeling over the reefs is two hours either side of low tide, which is the time when the greatest amount of marine life is revealed. Kenyas coastal waters are warm all year round so diving without a wet suit is also rewarding.

What To See

A shifting rainbow of small fish, worms, shrimps, octopus and clams hide in the gaps while blue and yellow parrot fish use their hard beaks to chew off lumps of coral. Snappers, zebra fish, butterfly fish and scorpion-fish shimmer in the clear waters while sharks, rays, turtles and starfish prowl the reef in search of prey. Fierce moray eels hide in holes, while small crabs, wrasses(long, spiny-finned fish) and sharks lurk in the caves, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and numerous species of mollusk feed on algae and transparent prawns dance through the waters alongside shifting clouds of tiny demoiselle fish. The Reserves creeks and inlets also serve as a substantial breeding ground for the rare mermaid-like creature called the dugong. A completely aquatic, warm-blooded mammal, the dugong is thought to share a common ancestry with the elephant, dugong have an average length of 2.5-3.2 meters, may weigh anything from 140-170kg, and live on the marine grasses growing in the shallower waters of the Reserve.

The outer islands of the Reserve host many seabirds. Species nesting here include roseate tern, sooty gull, white-cheeked tern, bridled tern and brown node. Crab plovers are also plentiful while other migrant waders frequent the more sheltered flats and creeks.

Where To Stay

Kiwayu Island is the only inhabited island to be included in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve.

What To Take With You

Footwear(to protect your feet from the reef), T-shirt, snorkel, mask, fins, camera, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, guidebooks and plenty of drinking water.

When To Go

The Reserve is open all year round.

Jerry Wanga

Yep,they say that the hurricanes scared some folks away from Florida. Well, I just came up with a really good reason for you to revisit the state. Florida contains some of the finest Bed and Breakfast inns in the nation, and below I present some of the ones that stood out to me.

1. The Addison is a serene 14-room inn representing a unique blend of old-style elegance with modern amenities. Traditionally, the values may seem to clash but the builders and owners have merged them together in a beautiful blend. This Inn was selected as one of the ten Best Overall Inns of 2009-2010 by BedandBreakfast.com. It also consistently maintains a number one ranking on TripAdvisor.com. Located on Amelia Island in the historic district of Fernandina Beach, the rooms feature porches for relaxation and an enchanting fountain courtyard. The area is a nature-lover’s paradise with pristine beaches, four major State Parks and a National Park. One can bike, hike, play golf, horseback ride, shell, bird watch, or go backwater or deep sea fishing. Signature breakfast dishes include fresh fruit smoothies, breakfast in a boat (baked potato shell stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, and crumbled bacon), banana pancakes with pecan toffee syrup, spicy breakfast quesadillas, praline French toast, and perfect Peruvian coffee.

2. If you can look past the wild and funky website, the Cedar Key B & B is an inn well worth visiting! Located in the second oldest city in Florida, the historic inn was built in 1880. Originally, the town was known for its cedar, out of which Eagle and Eberhardt pencils were produced; today its claims to fame are clam farming and tourism. Besides boasting some of the cleanest and most comfortable lodgings imaginable, this inn’s draw is also the amazing array of activities in the area: boating, kayaking, air boats, fishing, bird watching, playing with dolphins, biking, hiking, scuba diving, plus a famous Arts festival and the October Seafood Festival. Or if you like football, attend a Florida Gators game in nearby Gainesville. A few nice added features of the inn is the pet friendly status, last minute specials, delicious breakfast, and an endless array of amenities such as teas, cookies, biscotti, hot chocolates, coffees, and a bottomless jar of the freshest homemade cookies you’ve ever placed in your mouth.

3. Casa Grandview is located in the vibrant, upscale city of West Palm Beach. This Bed & Breakfast combines some of the most desirable features of the secluded and quaint B & Bs with the services of a luxury resort. The Casa offers romantic cottages, quaint bungalows, art deco cabana suites, stylish tropical coastal villas, and classic city oasis retreats. What a fabulous array of choices, many with kitchens, elaborate baths, and spacious living areas. The owners stock each suite with only the best gourmet foods for your breakfast, and, if desired, for additional meals. Everything you need is available including complimentary Wi-Fi, HD TVs, premium satellite service, music and movie channels, iPod docking stations, and CD players. You can even check emails and surf the web while catching some rays poolside or dozing in a hammock. You will be waited on with 5-star service or left alone for some glorious privacy. Whatever you want is what you get at Casa Grandview.

4. Elizabeth Pointe Lodge is a Nantucket ’shingle style’ inn that overlooks the rich blue Atlantic. What can I say? USA Today deemed this oceanfront inn as one of the 10 greatest places to sit on the porch. Travel and Leisure magazine recognized it as one of the fifty great beach resorts in our nation. The book, 1000 Places to See Before You Die, tagged this as a place where the emphasis is on pure relaxation. The Road Best Traveled distinguished the inn as one of the 12 Best Waterfront Inns in America. The honors go on and on. Besides offering full concierge service and 24 hour room service, there are also gourmet treats offered all day, a lavish wine and hors d’oeuvres reception each evening, and an oceanfront breakfast with scads of sumptuous offerings in the sunroom. In every way, Elizabeth Pointe is determined to go above and beyond your needs and expectations.

5. Florida Trend Magazine states that the Herlong Mansion of Micanopy, Florida is “easily Florida’s most elegant Bed & Breakfast.” In case you don’t know, this quiet little town is south of Gainesville, near Cross Creek, the village the author of The Yearling made famous. The ten fireplaces and high ceilings of the inn are perfectly accented with mission oak woodwork and mahogany inlaid floors. Photos can never do justice to the warm beauty of this place. Wide verandas between enormous pillars on the first and second floors contain cushioned swings that overlook an impeccably manicured lawn with ancient towering oaks. The breakfast isn’t wildly fancy but offers delicious traditional fare such as homemade biscuits and perfect omelettes, rich coffee, and apple bread. And, if you like, you can have a candlelit four-course dinner catered with roses, champagne, the works. Treat yourself to casual elegance for just one night, or more…

6. The Seven Sisters Inn is located in Ocala, Florida, region of rolling green hills and thoroughbred horse ranches. Built in 1888, the Queen Anne Victorian home was judged a “Best Restoration Project” and is listed prominently in the National Register of Historic Places. One startling uniqueness of this inn is the rooms, which feature décor from the four corners of the globe. One enters through elaborately carved Indonesian doors, then there is a Bengal Safari room, a Cape Cod Lighthouse room, an Egyptian Treasure room, an Oriental Zen-like room, and a room from Old Paris featuring imported French fabrics and décor. Visitors feel as if they are traveling the world as they lounge in front of their fireplaces or relax with spa showers, Jacuzzi, Victorian soaking tubs, and heated towel bars. And when you wake the next morning, get ready for an award winning breakfast on white china and crystal, including three-cheese French toast with Ginger Peaches, Eggs Pesto, Chicken Puffed Pastry, Raspberry-Oatmeal pancakes, or Tomato-Zucchini Quiche. The “Seven Sisters” will make you happy.

7. The Williams is a beautifully restored antebellum mansion located in the historic seaside village of Fernandina Beach. There are three separate buildings, each offering rooms for guests: the Williams House, the Hearthstone House, and the Carriage House. You will be captivated by intricate moldings, massive pocket doors, true wood floors, and hand-carved mantles created from heart pine, cherry, or mahogany. Sweeping verandas, original tiled fireplaces and crystal chandeliers make visitors feel as if they’ve slipped into a time warp. If you appreciate the days when great pride and craft were marks of the homes of the wealthy, you will love the William’s House. But it isn’t just a home to wander. The owners cater to your whims, including your desire to wake to a breakfast you’ll remember. Your first course will feature fresh fruit and muffins, scones, or pound cake. Your second course may include strawberry croissant French toast or blueberry strata. Enjoy this with fresh orange juice or rich Colombian coffee. No one will leave the William’s House either hungry or unhappy.

8. Can you keep a secret? There is a Bed & Breakfast inn in Key West called Atlantis House. This is one of those places you will not want to tell your friends about, lest the next time you want to book a night there, it will be booked two or three months ahead. It has only two exclusive rooms: that’s right, the Master suite and the Garden suite. The owners, Steve and Kayla Kessler designed, built, and maintain the property themselves. The inn is nestled in a lush tropical garden bordering the roiling Atlantic. Not long ago, this inn was awarded “The Best of the South” award from BedandBreakfast.com, and it was deserved. I just don’t know how they found the thing. If you want, you can kick back on your own sun deck or spend some romantic moments in the breezy, vine-covered gazebo. Or if you’re a little more adventurous, Steve happens to be a licensed Captain and with his boat, The Contender, he’ll be happy to take you fishing. Then Steve and Kayla will prepare you the perfect dinner with “the catch of the day,” or maybe a lobster Steve caught for your dining pleasure. Steve can also offer private, guided snorkeling tours of the most beautiful coral reef in the Continental United States. Then, after a hard day of sunning or fishing, Kayla, a massage therapist, can massage all your troubles away. Now remember, this is our little secret, cross your heart.

9. Palmer House is an inn nestled in a little town called Lithia, Florida. This is another B & B that was listed by BedandBreakfast.com as one of the “Best in the South” for 2009-2010. It’s a very tranquil place with grandfather oaks, butterfly gardens, hammocks, and bicycle trails. But, hang onto your hats, because nearby are almost all the tourist attractions Florida offers, including Orlando’s. In fact, Lithia is the perfect location from which you can go for day trips either to Busch Gardens or the Tampa Bay Bucs on the Gulf coast or Disney World and Universal Studios on the Atlantic coast. You’ll get home in time for some cookies and milk before bedtime and you’ll awaken the next morning to fresh coffee, quiche, a breakfast casserole, and their signature dish, almond-crusted French toast.

10. On charming Anna Maria Island, near Sarasota, Florida, you will find the Harrington House. It is actually comprised of the Main Inn, the Carriage House, the Huth House, and the Dodt House. You thus have the option of staying in a bungalow, a beach house, a villa or a condo. You can lounge on your balcony opening out onto the Gulf of Mexico, you can kayak with the dolphins, tour the island by bicycle, or swim in the Gulf or the heated pool. Nearby Sarasota and Bradenton offer the Ringling Museum of Art, Selby Botanical Gardens, the Bishop Planetarium, shopping at St. Armand’s Circle, or fine dining at Longboat Key. But, whatever you do, don’t miss the Harrington chef’s most popular breakfast dishes: Buttermilk Pancake Sundae or Jo’s Bacon and Crab Roll.

Yes, in a state chock full of Bed & Breakfast inns, these are a few of the ones I wanted to introduce you to. Maybe there are others to equal some of these. However, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any of those described above. It’s time you discover the world of difference between a typical hotel and a Bed & Breakfast inn.

Debra Fortosis

The beautiful island of Madeira is part of Portugal. It lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 470 miles to the west of Morocco and 300 miles north of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

It therefore enjoys a wonderful warm climate the whole year round. For centuries, it was a particular favourite amongst British aristocratic travellers wishing to escape British winters, long before travelling and winter breaks became the norm for less wealthy folk.

Madeira, or Portugese for wood, is often described as a the Floating Garden due to the luxuriant greenery and abundance of wild flowering shrubs that can be seen there.

It is a rugged, extremely mountainous, highly picturesque island, roughly rectangular in shape and measuring about 30 miles in length by 10 miles wide. The highest mountain on this extinct volcanic isle is Pico Ruivo, which is 1862 metres, or 6060 feet, above sea level.

Coaches can carry visitors up very winding mountain roads to over 5000 feet. It is not an experience enjoyed by those of a nervous disposition. Although the views from the mountains on a clear day arebreathtakingly spectacular.

Due to the hight of the mountains, their peaks are sometimes shrouded in mist or low cloud. This provides Madeira with valuable water for irrigation, as well as everyday household use.

The hard working Madeirans have, over the centuries, created a fantastic network of Levadas or irrigation channels alongside narrow paths, to carry valuable water from the highest peaks to the much drier valleys and coastal villages way down below.

The levadas are a fantastic feat of engineering and a tribute to the Madeirans dogged determination to make the best of their island. It is quite humbling to think of the heroic effort that must have gone into the creating of these levadas on the most difficult steep terrain imaginable, using the simplest of hand tools to break up the volcanic rock.

The Madeirans of old must have been as nimble as mountain goats and very tough, Today, the levada walks are amongst the favourite tourist attractions of Madeira, and one of the prime reasons that thousands return, year after year, to this gem of an island.

The scenery of the Madeiran mountains and rugged coastline is truly spectacular, particularly when the shrubs and trees are in flower.

The beautiful Bird of Paradise flower, or strelitzia is a firm favourite with visitors, who buy them in their thousands from the colourful flower shops.

Douglas Scott

The beautiful island of Madeira is part of Portugal. It lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 470 miles to the west of Morocco and 300 miles north of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

It therefore enjoys a wonderful warm climate the whole year round. For centuries, it was a particular favourite amongst British aristocratic travellers wishing to escape British winters, long before travelling and winter breaks became the norm for less wealthy folk.

Madeira, or Portugese for wood, is often described as a the Floating Garden due to the luxuriant greenery and abundance of wild flowering shrubs that can be seen there.

It is a rugged, extremely mountainous, highly picturesque island, roughly rectangular in shape and measuring about 30 miles in length by 10 miles wide. The highest mountain on this extinct volcanic isle is Pico Ruivo, which is 1862 metres, or 6060 feet, above sea level.

Coaches can carry visitors up very winding mountain roads to over 5000 feet. It is not an experience enjoyed by those of a nervous disposition. Although the views from the mountains on a clear day arebreathtakingly spectacular.

Due to the hight of the mountains, their peaks are sometimes shrouded in mist or low cloud. This provides Madeira with valuable water for irrigation, as well as everyday household use.

The hard working Madeirans have, over the centuries, created a fantastic network of Levadas or irrigation channels alongside narrow paths, to carry valuable water from the highest peaks to the much drier valleys and coastal villages way down below.

The levadas are a fantastic feat of engineering and a tribute to the Madeirans dogged determination to make the best of their island. It is quite humbling to think of the heroic effort that must have gone into the creating of these levadas on the most difficult steep terrain imaginable, using the simplest of hand tools to break up the volcanic rock.

The Madeirans of old must have been as nimble as mountain goats and very tough, Today, the levada walks are amongst the favourite tourist attractions of Madeira, and one of the prime reasons that thousands return, year after year, to this gem of an island.

The scenery of the Madeiran mountains and rugged coastline is truly spectacular, particularly when the shrubs and trees are in flower.

The beautiful Bird of Paradise flower, or strelitzia is a firm favourite with visitors, who buy them in their thousands from the colourful flower shops.

Douglas Scott

The beautiful island of Madeira is part of Portugal. It lies in the Atlantic Ocean, 470 miles to the west of Morocco and 300 miles north of Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

It therefore enjoys a wonderful warm climate the whole year round. For centuries, it was a particular favourite amongst British aristocratic travellers wishing to escape British winters, long before travelling and winter breaks became the norm for less wealthy folk.

Madeira, or Portugese for wood, is often described as a the Floating Garden due to the luxuriant greenery and abundance of wild flowering shrubs that can be seen there.

It is a rugged, extremely mountainous, highly picturesque island, roughly rectangular in shape and measuring about 30 miles in length by 10 miles wide. The highest mountain on this extinct volcanic isle is Pico Ruivo, which is 1862 metres, or 6060 feet, above sea level.

Coaches can carry visitors up very winding mountain roads to over 5000 feet. It is not an experience enjoyed by those of a nervous disposition. Although the views from the mountains on a clear day arebreathtakingly spectacular.

Due to the hight of the mountains, their peaks are sometimes shrouded in mist or low cloud. This provides Madeira with valuable water for irrigation, as well as everyday household use.

The hard working Madeirans have, over the centuries, created a fantastic network of Levadas or irrigation channels alongside narrow paths, to carry valuable water from the highest peaks to the much drier valleys and coastal villages way down below.

The levadas are a fantastic feat of engineering and a tribute to the Madeirans dogged determination to make the best of their island. It is quite humbling to think of the heroic effort that must have gone into the creating of these levadas on the most difficult steep terrain imaginable, using the simplest of hand tools to break up the volcanic rock.

The Madeirans of old must have been as nimble as mountain goats and very tough, Today, the levada walks are amongst the favourite tourist attractions of Madeira, and one of the prime reasons that thousands return, year after year, to this gem of an island.

The scenery of the Madeiran mountains and rugged coastline is truly spectacular, particularly when the shrubs and trees are in flower.

The beautiful Bird of Paradise flower, or strelitzia is a firm favourite with visitors, who buy them in their thousands from the colourful flower shops.

Douglas Scott