Archive for July 21st, 2010

Chilling out on Cua Dai Beach – Vietnam Beach

After days of engulfing ourselves in the poetic scenery and walking under the fanciful light of the lanterns during the Hoi An ancient town nights, we went to Cua Dai Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches not only in the central region but also in the country.

With 125km of seashore from Dien Ngoc to Dung Quat Bay, the beaches in Quang Nam province have kept their character, maintaining their rustic nature, fresh air and sunlight.

Cua Dai Beach, 4km from Hoi An ancient town, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Quang Nam. This special beach stands out with restaurants, hotels and newly-built modern resorts. Roads are lined with colourful clusters of wild flowers planted to relax visitors.

From Ha Noi, we flew with our nine-year-old son to Da Nang and arrived in Hoi An city at 9am on a Vietnam Airlines flight. After checking in to the Hotel Vinh Hung Hotel, in the centre of the city, a kilometre from Hoi An ancient town (about 25 minutes walk), we decided to head to Cua Dai Beach immediately in a bid to steer clear of the scorching heat of the centre.

At the low cost of VND15,000 per day, renting a bicycle is popular among visitors to Hoi An City. Beach goers, especially foreign visitors and young people, tend to enjoy pedalling a bicycle the short distance from town to Cua Dai Beach. It took us about 30 minutes to pedal our way there.

Motorbikes and taxis are also available for families with children and elders.

The beaches are stretches of white sand, with moderately salty, shallow water which stays a lovely shade of blue year-round. At night, the surface of the sea is filled with the pinpoints of lamps from thousands of fishing boats. I imagined it was a lantern city on the sea.

Lying on canvas chairs, we breathed in the sea air and sunbathed while my son built sand-castles. Afternoon is the best time for visitors to swim and relax in the soft waves.

Sea food dishes prepared by local cooks are excellent and especially fresh. We ate two special dishes : steamed lobster and chao ca mu (grouper gruel) at Tan Loc restaurant which is under the direction of a young female chef. Both the lobster and the grouper were fresh-caught and purchased from local fishermen on Cham Island early that morning.

It was the second time I ate lobster. The first time was at a fancy restaurant in Ha Noi, but the taste was different.

The sea air and the skills of the local cook brought us the fresh flavours of the sea. Additionally, prices here were reasonable; about half compared to Ha Noi restaurants.

Friendly young female servers with healthy sunburnt complexions talked easily with foreign visitors in English, happy to take the opportunity to introduce their country.

“They (local villagers) are friendly and speak English very well. The beach is clean and the sea is blue. I will come back,” an Australian visitor told us with a smile.

Cua Dai’s waters are plentiful with sea life, making fishing a popular form of entertainment for tourists. Visitors can hire small boats to go fishing.

We like Cua Dai Beach because it was not overloaded with visitors and the local people are warm and honest. I also found the local people to be trained and cultivated with the essential skills needed to serve guests, including foreign visitors.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

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Phromthep Cape: A Site Of Majestic Beauty

One of the most prominent locations in Phuket as well as the most photographed, Phromthep Cape is a destination that should not be missed when travelling to this beautiful island.

This scenic spot is one of the best locations in the island to view the beautiful sunset, which when coupled with the pristine waters that are on offer provide one of the most picturesque sights on the island. Apart from the cape itself, onlookers are presented with panoramic views of the beautiful and stunning surrounding landscape.

The view that is presented from the cape truly stirs the imagination and one can almost imagine the shores of Sri Lanka and India being visible from here. Visitors to the Phromthep Cape can also proceed further down a path that which is full of rocky terrain. Due to the nature of the path and its rugged terrain, it is suitable for the more adventurous traveller which is why many settle for the cape itself.

Another attraction that can be found here is a spectacular lighthouse which provides sprawling views over the surrounding areas from an even more immense height. Featuring an air conditioned interior, visitors who choose to climb to the top of the tower will be privy to views of the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Racha Noi and Koh Racha Yai. Also visible from here is Koh Kiaow Island which is also home to a Buddhist Monastery.

When visiting the cape, travellers should not pass up the opportunity to stop by the shrine dedicated to the Hindu God of creation, Brahma. Surrounded by thousands of wooden elephants of various sizes, this shrine is not only photogenic but also presents an aesthetic marvel to behold upon. The shrine is a strong icon of religious worship and truly showcases the diversity that is present on the island.

Travellers planning on visiting this popular attraction will find that staying in a Phuket hotel resort that is located close to this destination will provide easy access and convenience. The Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach provides an ideal location in addition to a range of amenities and comforts that ensures for a comfortable stay in the island.

Da Bo Gong Temple, a Taoist temple that attracts both devotees and sightseers

The peaceful Kusu Island, one of Singapore’s Southern Islands, has been developed from a mere couple of reef outcrops into a sizable island which has achieved the status of a holiday destination. One of Kusu Island’s prime attractions is the Taoist Da Bo Gong Temple, which houses two principal deities, Da Bo Gong and Guan Yin.  Da Bo Gong, known as the God of Prosperity or Merchant God is revered for his reputed ability to cure diseases, grant prosperity, forestall danger and calm the seas. Guan Yin on the other hand is considered to confer fertility and grant children. The picturesque red-hued temple was constructed by a rich businessman in 1923.

The site of the temple is associated with a popular legend which recounts those two seafarers, Malay and Chinese were shipwrecked in the vicinity. Seeing their predicament a giant tortoise transformed itself into an island so as to create a safe haven for them, saving their lives.

Taoists commemorate this miraculous rescue to this day by making a pilgrimage to the Da Bo Gong Temple, arriving at the shrine in their thousands.  A wide cross-section of pilgrim visit the shrine, praying to the deities and burning offerings. One of the temple’s distinctive features is its wishing well which has been created in the form of a lotus flower. Devotees throw coins into the well, attempting to strike the three bells located inside the well, in order to fulfill their wishes. Another ritual involves a ‘wishing tree’; pilgrims write their wishes on a piece of paper, fold it, tie it with a red string, and throw it high into the tree. It is thought that the higher the paper lands, the greater the chances of the wish coming true.

When selecting hotels in Singapore, SingaporeHotelseye.com the online portal will be of great assistance. Providing access to a variety of discount Singapore hotels, this resource will greatly facilitate the process of booking Singapore hotels.

A Fun filled North Shore Vacation

The North Shore in Oahu is one of the popular Hawaiian destinations offering righteous surfing conditions, magnificent scenery, 20 miles of stellar coastline and several fun filled and exciting activities. Every year it draws thousands of tourists from across the world.

It is a surfer’s paradise from October through February when the waves reach the extreme heights. Several professional surfing competitions are organized during this period with surfer’s from all over the world taking part in it. The Sunset Beach has the highest surfing breakers and the Ehukai Beach is the home to the most thrilling and demanding locations for boarders. If you’re not much in surfing, you can always enjoy the sight of the people surfing.

Summers are the best time to visit the North Shore for a more laid back experience. The waters are calm and offer snorkeling, deep water fishing and scuba diving activities. The prime shell hunting activity at Kawela Bay also promises a memorable experience. North shore has several world class golf courses including the courses designed by Arnold Palmer. It offers a great chance for the visitors to try their skill in the game of golf. They can also make use of the golfing tricks given by the local golfers. All in all, this part of Oahu offers the ultimate Hawaiian fun.

To experience the ultimate Hawaiian treatment, consider renting a private vacation home. Experiencing North Shore from these vacation homes would be like relaxing on the warm, balmy ocean on a flawless day. If you more into surfing and other water activities, choose one of the beachside condos that offer great ocean views and relaxing sound of the waves. You may even consider renting a hillside hideaway that offers all the amenities and services to make it a comfortable stay for the visitors.

A visit to the Waimea Valley Audubon Centre will offer the fell of the Hawaii in its natural state. The hiking trips are the best way to discover the natural Hawaiian Beauty and witness some exotic plants, birds and animals. The Waini Falls offer a great picnic spot for the family with cool streams and ample photo opportunities.  Everything about this place is so natural and Hawaiian.

Another major attraction in the North Shore Oahu is the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is the most widely known visitor attraction in the Hawaiian Island with exhibits representing the eight cultures of Samoa, Tonga, Aotearoa, Hawaii, Fiji, Marquesas, Tahiti and Easter Island. It has a meandering loch that hosts exhilarating Conoe Pageant in the evening after hosting canoe tours during the day. Later guests can relax and enjoy in the only Hawaii IMAX theatre watching Coral Reef Adventures and learning the significance of coral reefs. The visitors can enjoy the traditional Hawaiian entertainment and food and the Hawaii’s royalty by going on a nostalgic trip to the award winning Ali’i Lu’au.

The Dole Plantation offers the sight of rows of papaya, bananas, mango, coffee and taro growing in the inlands before they are exported throughout the world. You can also take a vessel and go for whale watching or perhaps even a shark cage tour. These shark tours offer the chance to come face to face with sharks in pretty safe and controlled environment. Every day people from all over the world come to be a part of this highly daring and enthralling activity.

The large number of activities and some beautiful places makes it a perfect getaway destination for the tourists. There are several traveling firms offering some great packages for a fun filled and adventurous Hawaiian experience at the North Shore.

Deadliest Catch – Adirondack Style