1000 Islands Hiking

Places you must visit in Hongkong

1. Hong Kong Museum of Art – Located at 10 Salisbury Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is open to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s culture and history through its large collection of over 14,000 items ranging from calligraphy, paintings, Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques, and lithographs. The museum is open from 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Thursday (public holidays not included).

2. Hong Kong Disneyland – The newly open and the first ever Disneyland in Asia offers total fun and excitement for the whole family. The park is divided into four major attractions: Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA.

3. Victoria Peak – Soaring 1810 feet above sea level, the Victoria Peak is premier destination for tourists who want to take a birds eye view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. Go another step higher and take a 10-minute hike to the actual Victoria Peak.

4. Lantau Island – Travel Hong Kong and take a cruise around the waters of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this waters.

5. Ocean Park – Travel Hong Kong and visit Ocean Park. This is one Hong Kong attractions where you and your kids will have a great fun. The park is one big oceanarium containing Lowlands Gardens where pandas live, goldfish pagoda and butterfly house are located, Marine Land where atoll reef and shark aquariums are found, and Headlands amusement park where you can go and take a ride with cable cars and roller coasters.

6. Water World – Travel Hong Kong with kids would never be so much fun without taking a plunge on Water World. Enjoy wave pools, play area, and water slides.

7. Middle Kingdom – A miniature China that houses Chinese shrines, street scenes, temples, and palaces only at Middle Kingdom.

8. The Central district – If you travel to Hong Kong because you love to shop, you better go to the central Hong Kong district where big shopping malls and several Western designer and signature boutiques are located.

9. Lamma Island – If you want to see a different Hong Kong, try Lamma Island. It hosts several outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. And if you love to taste fresh Hong Kong seafood in great dining ambiance, Lamma Island is still the preferred place to go.

10. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Sha Tin) – Located at New Territories, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery features Buddha in different poses and colors.

You must visit to Hong Kong

Hong Kong features a diverse mixture of characters as a result of long British occupation and a great Chinese influence. As a state of China, Hong Kong provides a good introduction to who ever wants to know more about China without entering the mainland plus a venue for more attractions with western culture and Asian spirit.

1. Hong Kong Museum of Art – Located at 10 Salisbury Rd Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is open to anyone who wants to take a glimpse of Hong Kong’s culture and history through its large collection of over 14,000 items ranging from calligraphy, paintings, Hong Kong treasure, art objects, antiques, and lithographs. The museum is open from 10:00am-6:00pm daily except Thursday (public holidays not included).

2. Hong Kong Disneyland – The newly open and the first ever Disneyland in Asia offers total fun and excitement for the whole family. The park is divided into four major attractions: Tomorrowland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Main Street, USA.

3. Victoria Peak – Soaring 1810 feet above sea level, the Victoria Peak is premier destination for tourists who want to take a birds eye view of downtown Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour. Go another step higher and take a 10-minute hike to the actual Victoria Peak.

4. Lantau Island – Travel Hong Kong and take a cruise around the waters of Lantau Island and watch pink dolphins that only live in this waters.

5. Ocean Park – Travel Hong Kong and visit Ocean Park. This is one Hong Kong attractions where you and your kids will have a great fun. The park is one big oceanarium containing Lowlands Gardens where pandas live, goldfish pagoda and butterfly house are located, Marine Land where atoll reef and shark aquariums are found, and Headlands amusement park where you can go and take a ride with cable cars and roller coasters.

6. Water World – Travel Hong Kong with kids would never be so much fun without taking a plunge on Water World. Enjoy wave pools, play area, and water slides.

7. Middle Kingdom – A miniature China that houses Chinese shrines, street scenes, temples, and palaces only at Middle Kingdom.

8. The Central district – If you travel to Hong Kong because you love to shop, you better go to the central Hong Kong district where big shopping malls and several Western designer and signature boutiques are located.

9. Lamma Island – If you want to see a different Hong Kong, try Lamma Island. It hosts several outdoor activities such as swimming and hiking. And if you love to taste fresh Hong Kong seafood in great dining ambiance, Lamma Island is still the preferred place to go.

10. Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (Sha Tin) – Located at New Territories, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery features Buddha in different poses and colors.

11. Hong Kong Space Museum – See what’s in store for you in the future at Hong Kong Space Museum. The complex offers hundreds of displays ranging from telecommunications, robotics, energy, computers, and physics with hands on experience that will keep you interested.

12. Wet Market – In Hong Kong, everything is fresh. And when they say fresh, they mean it. If you happen to travel Hong Kong to visit a friend or someone you know, come along when they go to wet market where the freshest among freshest seafood are for sale

Visit Hawaii And Marvel At The Soaring Cliff’s And The Kalalau Trail

The Island of Kauai, the oldest Hawaiian island at what scientists calculate to be over five million years old, is graced with remarkable, natural beauty, none more so apparent than along the stunning Napali Coast on the island’s north shore. It is no shock that Kauai is termed The Garden Island. This unforgiving and exotic coastline overlooks panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and is a amazing place to experience nature in all its glory.

Huge velvet green cliffs, towering high into the sky, cascading waterfalls plunge into deep, narrow valleys to be met by the cool blue of the ocean. Such is the splendor of the Napali Coast that it has been used as the setting for many Hollywood films such as Jurassic Park 1, 11 and 111, Raiders of the Lost Ark and King Kong. You can retrace the steps of the famous, along the 11-mile long Kalalau Trail but with the surroundings changing throughout the seasons, don’t expect to identify any sets. The Kalalau Trail has many naturally incredible views to keep you coming back to experience the seasonal transformations.

Knowledgeable and resilient hikers can take the Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast which winds across five valleys and ends on the isolated Kalalau Beach but it is worth noting that many hiking clubs rate the Kalalau Trail as one of the most tricky hikes. It also involves an overnight hike but if you can take the pace, you will be well rewarded with magnificent views over the coast and in to the rain forest. The temperature and humidity are things that hikers must be equipped for on the Kalalau Trail.

The trail rises to its highest point of five thousand feet between Ke`e and Hanakapi`ai. From there you can look down upon the azure blue ocean. You come closer to water a little further down the Kalalau Trail when you have to take good care crossing the Hanakapia`ai Stream. A rope is provided at the spot for your ease and security. From here you can take an alternate route along the Hanakapia`ai Falls Trail if you wish to experience the 100 feet high waterfalls, it is well worth the diversion. Other attractions include the view into Pali from the Waiahuakua Valley but these, and the climbs along the Kalalau Trail, are not for the faint of heart.

Other ways to experience the splendor of this coast are by a boat tour or on a kayaking trip. You can kayak in and out of Kalalau beach, which is the official end of the Kalalau trail. Alternatively, visitors can take a breathtaking helicopter tour along the Napali Coast and to the Wailua Falls and through the magnificent 3,500 foot deep Waimea Canyon, named by Mark Twain as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.

Kauai itself offers more miles of beach than any of the other Hawaiian Islands – 90 miles in total. The area of Po-ipu has a number of top beaches and is also home to the monk seals which are in danger of extinction. A pleasurable afternoon spent is to drift up the Wailua River on a boat trip which takes you to the fern covered Fern Grotto and to soaring waterfalls. The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a must for wildlife enthusiasts – here you can see migratory birds, seabirds and Humpback Whales, monk seals and spinner dolphins can also be seen from Kilauea Point.

Naturists and Naturalists – Vacations in Southern Crete

Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands, is sometimes described as a mass tourist resort. It is true that there are several north coast resorts on Crete that can be found in the brochures of practically every package tour company. But Crete is a very big island with many unspoilt holiday resorts for tourists who prefer a quieter vacation, enjoying beautiful scenery and glimpses of traditional Cretan culture.

Both of Crete’s international airports are situated on the north coast and two high mountain ranges running east-west, form a natural barrier to mass tourism reaching the south coast. In the southwest corner of the island, the highest mountains drop steeply to the coastal area, making any serious development of these remote communities impossible. Indeed, the mountains drop so steeply here that some of the villages can only be accessed by sea.

This area of Crete is known as the Sfakia region. It lays at the foot the White Mountain range. These mountains have more than a hundred peaks, with eighty reaching to over 6500 feet and the highest ones towering to nearly eight thousand feet. Europe’s longest gorge, the Samaria, can be found amongst them, along with several others that are less well known but are every bit as picturesque and dramatic to explore.

To get to the Sfakia region, most people fly to Chania airport and travel by road over a mountain pass to Chora Sfakion. However, my best travel tip is to check out the cost of flights to Nikos Kazantzakis Airport in Heraklion before deciding which airport to fly to. I have always found that it is possible to make substantial savings by flying there instead of to Chania and the road journey to Chora Sfakion is not really all that much further.

There are a couple of family run hotels, self catering apartments, studios and village rooms providing accommodations at competitive rates in and around Chora Sfakion but we have always stayed at the beautiful naturist hotel a mile to the east in Vritomartis. If you dare to bare this is one of the few places in Greece where nudity is officially allowed. The whole of the hotel grounds are clothes optional and the area around the pool is designated as naturist only. The nearest beach is only a five minute walk away and is also clothes optional. The area is so remote, that many guests don’t even bother dressing for the walk.

For naturalists the Sfakia region provides plenty of opportunities to spot unique Cretan flora and fauna which includes the Kri Kri, a species of wild goat, indigenous to and only found on Crete. Dolphins, whales and turtles can often be seen in the clear coastal waters whilst Bonelli’s Eagle and the Griffon Vulture may be seen circling in the blue skies above.

For walkers, the gorges and mountains provide challenges ranging from relaxing hikes to demanding treks. The most famous walk is of course the Samaria Gorge and although it is very much worth undertaking, you may be put off by the crowds of tourists that descend it nearly every day. They arrive by the coach-load from all over the island because the excursion is number one on every tour operators “must-sell” list. Its worth putting up with the crowds however because once you have hiked a few hundred metres from the start of the walk, you will find plenty of spaces between you and the other walkers for the remaining 16 kilometres. The scenery is magnificent all the way down to the shore of the Lybian sea at Agia Roumeli from where you get a boat back to Chora Sfakion.

The smaller gorges of Imbros and Aradena are much less likely to be afflicted by hoards of other tourists. Imbros is an easy half day hike and its finish is situated very near to Vritomartis, making it a good choice for naturists who want to put their shorts and hiking boots on just for a change. Aradena is more of a challenge but not much further away. A good head for heights is needed on one of the sections where a little scrambling is involved.

For history lovers, the region has much to reveal about the Battle for Crete during the second world war and it is definitely worth reading the book of this name by Nikos Kazantzakis as a prelude to your vacation. The mountain villages were famous for their fierce resistance fighters where you will find the occasional statue or monument erected in memory of a local hero.

So, if you are the sort of person who loves dramatic, picturesque scenery, secluded beaches with crystal clear waters, remote mountain villages where traditional culture still remains; this part of Crete is definitely for you. If you happen to be a naturist as well as a naturalist, my travel tip is to book your vacation at the Vritomartis hotel. If you prefer to hide some parts of your body from the hot Cretan sun, head for the accommodations in Chora Sfakion instead. If you want to stay somewhere that is even more remote, hop on a boat at Chora Sfakion to take you to the next coastal village which is called Loutro. Although there is no way of reaching Loutro by road, it does have some pretty holiday apartments, several secluded beaches that nestle in coves at the foot of cliffs and donkey tracks and paths that lead up into the mountains and along the coast.

Wherever you decide to stay in this region of southern Crete you will almost certainly enjoy good weather. However, a fierce wind, blowing from the north and known as the Meltemi, funnels down through the mountain gorges and hits the southern shores with some force. It is usually at its strongest from mid July to late August, making Europe’s most southerly sun seem a little cooler than it would otherwise be. If you don’t like being wind blasted, avoid this time of the year.

Visiting Utah On Your Next Road Trip

While in Utah, look for mountains, deserts, colorful canyons, cool caves, natural bridges, arches and a big, bold, briny lake. Visitors to Utah are advised to keep their eyes and ears wide open so they won’t miss anything, since the “Beehive State” bedazzles guests with a real treasure trove of nature’s richness.

Antelope Island State Park is located near Syracuse between Salt Lake City and Ogden in northwestern Utah’s Great Basin country. Perched in the middle of the Great Salt Lake at 4,200 feet above seal level, Antelope is the largest of the big lake’s ten islands. The park is easy to reach via a seven-mile-long causeway that connects Antelope Island with Utah’s mainland. At one time a hunting ground for explorers like Kit Carson and John C. Freemont, a homesteading haven for adventurers, and a grazing range for domestic livestock, the 28,000-acre Antelope tract was designated a state park in 1981. Animals that currently live off the island’s bounty include elk, mule deer, pronghorn antelope and a thriving herd of American bison. There are also resident coyotes, porcupines, jackrabbits, badgers and bobcats, plus an impressive variety of land and shore-dwelling birds, from raptors and burrowing owls to grebes and California gulls. Besides opportunities for wildlife observation, Antelope Island sits amid 1,500 square miles of Great Salt Lake, the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River. There are sandy white beaches, glorious sunsets and soothing stretches of saltwater that render swimmers unsinkable. Antelope’s hikers, cyclists and horseback riders enjoy an assortment of roads and trails that provide sweeping vistas of the luminous lake and the island’s rugged terrain.

In the southwestern region of Utah, near Springdale, Zion National Park marks the incomparable connection of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert. The Hebrew word Zion translates as “place of refuge or sanctuary,” and this 229 square-mile preserve certainly fulfills its calling. Towering sandstone cliffs, splendid canyons, and the largest natural arch in the world contribute to the majesty of Zion’s countryside. Designated automobile routes lead tourists onto Checkerboard Mesa, along Kolob’s finger canyons, or into terraced high-country. The park’s excellent system of hiking and biking trails introduces visitors to waterfalls, gardens, springs, rivers, and some of the most awesome panoramas you’ll find. For those who’d like to park their vehicles and take a carefree ride through Zion’s adventures, an efficient park transportation system takes the trouble out of touring.

Bryce Canyon National Park is in south central Utah near the town of Bryce Canyon. This park hugs the eastern edge of the high-lying, desert-fringed Paunsaugunt Plateau. It’s a special place where thousands of multicolored mazes, pinnacles, fins and spires have been crafted from the effects of erosion on local sandstone, limestone and mudstone. These unique stony formations are dubbed “hoodoos,” and are clumped together in U-shaped patterns along the plateau, giving Bryce Canyon a fantastic landscape. Besides admiring the captivating hoodoos, visitors hike, ride horses or drive on a self-guided auto tour of park territory. Wanderers see ponderosa pine trees, fir-spruce woodlands, elevated meadows, surrounding deserts and distant views of three states. Bryce’s air is clean and exhilarating, and its clear, unlit night skies are perfect for stargazing.

The southeastern Utah town of Moab is the home base of Canyonlands National Park. This preserve occupies a high desert basin rimmed by sandstone cliffs, and it’s a larger-than-life, naturally occurring tribute to the artistic merits of the mighty Colorado River. Through the relentless movement of the Colorado over vast spans of time, Canyonlands’ tinted sandstone scene has been eroded and layered into tremendous gorges, mesas and buttes. A major source of the park’s geographic variety is the presence of the Colorado and Green Rivers, which swiftly run through Canyonlands, slicing the park into several unique sections. The Island in the Sky district is a good place to begin a Canyonlands tour. This area offers visitors a marked automobile route with lots of scenic overlooks and a nice choice of easy-does-it hiking trails. Sightings of desert-dwelling animals such as spade foot toads, kangaroo rats, coyotes and bobcats add to the appeal of any visit.

Recreation While on Your Shopping Trip to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most famous tourist cities, but it is also a good place to go for recreation in East and Southeast Asia. It is has had a worldwide reputation as one of the world’s best places to shop. This makes sense since there are no sales taxes and almost no taxes at all, and it is one of China’s busiest ports, right next to the ShenZhen Special Economic Zone and the many factories in GuangDong Province. Products from around the world may be bought there at competitive prices. Business people from all over the world come to conduct business with people in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese.

It is known as the “gateway to China,” and the Chinese made products that are sold are cheaper than comparable goods that you would find in your local malls back in your home countries. With all this hustle and bustle and money exchanging hands, is there another way to have fun other than by strolling in the malls and bargaining with shop owners? There are plenty of recreational opportunities in Hong Kong.There are plenty of fun places to go, interesting things to see, and fun things to do in Hong Kong and much of this fun is free or inexpensive. Hong Kong has some of the best natural recreation areas in the region, good museums, zoos and parks that are free or inexpensive, amusement parks, an inexpensive transportation system including a cheap ferry system, lots of English language churches, and there is the fun and adventure of seeing and mixing with people from all over the world. So though Hong Kong is known as a good place to shop, to me the recreational activities is what makes Hong Kong enjoyable.

Looking at the market situation from an economic standpoint, from the many luxurious malls and stores, from all the thousands of small shops and boutiques, and from all the people hawking merchandise at tourists on the streets, there is plenty of competition to keep prices down. Labor costs in Hong Kong are still much lower than in the most of the world’s developed economies. It sits on one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and products from all over the world are sold by merchants who have come to live there from all over the world. People from around the world go there to shop, have holidays, and enjoy the clean environment, scenery, resorts, hotels and restaurants. But if you are tired of business and shopping, people in the region looking for a place to get away from people, enjoy natural activities like hiking and swimming in a clean ocean, enjoy real Western food and enjoy some English language films or English friendly cultural activities, Hong Kong is sort of unique. This is what I found about Hong Kong. It is also interesting to watch all the world cultures merge, and see the people from all over the world.
Natural Recreation

The Chinese SAR (Special Administrative Region) of Hong Kong is covered with hills and mountains. It is wonderful to take a train or bus from the border and see green tree covered hills that seem empty. These mountains and hills are fairly steep, and until recently people have left much of the region of Hong Kong undeveloped. Especially, the region of the New Territories is still largely undeveloped. About 40% of Hong Kong is protected in 23 parks, including three marine parks and one marine reserve. Hiking trails, waterfalls, clean swimming spots and places to fish, lakes, rivers and some of Asia’s best beaches are within walking distance from the modern rapid transit train stations, and are often empty or have few visitors each day. As one person reported, “We hardly met a soul on our hikes.” Some of Asia’s best beaches and natural ocean areas are empty, but easily accessible. The 10 tallest mountain peaks all have hiking trails. Books and trail guides are easy to find in book stores and information kiosks. So for those who want to stroll or to go swimming or hiking, these still empty places in Hong Kong may be among the best places to go in East Asia.

As an example of a quick natural excursion from a ritzy mall, when I am on Hong Kong Island I like to take a 20 or 30 minute walk through the new IFC Mall that is one of Hong Kong’s most deluxe and arrive at a narrow road that climbs through a wooded park up Victoria Peak, rise above the high rises, and once reaching the top, see the great views on both the city side and the seaward side of the peak. If you really want to shop, there are two more malls to shop in on the top of Victoria Peak! Along the way, near this road is one of the coolest zoos I have ever seen, partly because it is free. I accidently walked in, trying to find my way up the hill one day, and found myself facing strange animals in cages. I thought I was in a small park, such as Chinese like to build to sit in, but found myself in one of the coolest zoos I’ve ever seen because it was clean, quiet and contained mainly primates, some of which I have never seen.

If you want to take this walk to the zoo or up Victoria Peak, the IFC Mall can be reached from Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon aboard the Star Ferry. After a 12 minute walk on the covered walkway from the ferry terminal, you’ll be in the IFC Mall. But you may have to ask directions. One thing I’ve found strange about both China and Hong Kong is how there are few signs giving directions. The mall is large and spread out over several huge buildings. From the side of the IFC that faces the mountain, you can follow more covered walkways, escalators and stairs that lead up to the road that ascends up the hill. It is difficult to find the road because there are no clear signs, but people may give directions. Next to this park is the free small zoo called the Zoological and Botanical Gardens. It is worth seeing. I describe it more below.

The hike though the park to the top of Victoria Peak takes about 35 or 40 minutes. It passes through woods, and there are places to sit along the way if you are tired. It is fairly quiet in the park, and usually only a few people, mainly foreigners, may be found walking along the road. At the top there is a mall called the Peak Tower. There are coffee shops including a Starbucks for refreshments, and there are many restaurants with views from the top of the peak. There actually are two peaks at the top of Victoria Peak with good views. The other peak is about a 15 minute walk away. From the first peak next to the malls, you can see the ocean and the shoreline from the ocean side of the island. From the second peak, there is a good view of the bay and city below. At night, the city lights are a spectacle (see my picture, taken during the day). The mall area is served by a tram, and there are buses and taxis available if you want a ride.

The city from Victoria Peak

Museums

It was really cool and fun visiting 3 museums and seeing an “Imax” movie called “The Alps” at the Space Museum this summer with some friends – all in one day. We went on the day the museums are free, so the Science Museum was crowded with kids. The museums in Hong Kong are inexpensive and interesting. Ticket prices range from 10 to 25 HKD which is only about 1.2 to about 3 US dollars. On Wednesdays, entry is free. If you are in Kowloon or Tsim Sha Tsui, the best museums are within walking distance. For busy shoppers, within easy travel distance of the busy shopping districts of Central on Hong Kong Island and of Tsim Sha Tsui are four of Hong Kong’s best museums and the Hong Kong Cultural Center.

The Museum of Art houses about 15,000 exhibits. Its focus is to preserve Chinese artistic heritage. The collection includes an impressive display of antiques, and it includes many works of art from ancient China. It also has an extensive calligraphy section.

The Hong Kong Space Museum is next door to the Museum of Art. It is a distinctive white dome shaped building. There are two collections and a large and sophisticated “Omnimax” or “Imax” style movie theater. The theater projects movies on the very large screen which is actually the roof of the building, and the audio is broadcast simultaneously via headphones in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese. The Hall of Space Science collection is on the first floor, and the Hall of Astronomy is on the second floor. The space science collection features mainly Chinese astronomical instruments and charts, early Chinese rockets that were used as weapons, and rockets that were invented in the West during the last two centuries. It also includes a mockup of the American Space Shuttle cockpit that is very interesting because it is realistic and huge. The Hall of Astronomy collection instructs visitors on the solar system, stars and universe. There is also a small collection of meteorites. Some of the exhibits in the museum are interactive. It is a place to go if you like science or want to learn about the history of astronomy or space flight, or if you simply want to see an exciting super screen movie.

Like I said, I visited this Space Museum this summer. The recreations of Chinese rocket weapons were interesting. And I was amazed at the size of the Space Shuttle cockpit. It is like a jetliner, but it doesn’t look very big on TV. The dome-screened “Imax” movie threatre was really a wonderful place to be. It was clean and quiet, and I was tired. But to view the movies, people have to lie down on the chairs that are more like beds. It was really cool. I was impressed by the scenery of the Alps, and the great music. The movie touched me. It was about a climber whose father had died climbing this same peak when he was a kid. It was really moving. He accomplished his life-long dream and burden to get to the top of it.

The Science Museum is about a 25 minute walk away. It is another place to go to learn about science. It is especially a fun place for kids and for adults who like to play because most of the exhibits are interactive. There is a hall of mirrors and a sports fitness test area for example. The hall of mirrors is fun to walk through. The fitness test area was the most fun part of the museum for me. But I suggest go when there aren’t so many kids. The lines were quite long on the “free day” when I visited.

The Hong Kong Museum of History is next to the Science Museum. It has interesting “real-life” displays of Hong Kong at various times, including the British Colonial era and the Japanese invasion. There is an interesting walk-through geology and natural history exhibit. The Museum has collected about 2,800 rock and mineral specimens from the around the territory, and there are over 750 specimens of shells from local beaches. The Museum has also acquired over 1,600 animal specimens, including mammals, birds and butterflies. I liked the historical displays about Hong Kong’s recent history, but I thought that the first part of the museum with the displays of Neolithic people on a beach and the recreations of prehistoric animals and etc. was kind of hokey.

The Hong Kong Cultural Center is a large building next to the Space Museum. When I walked inside, I was struck by the huge unused space. There is a concert hall that seats about 2000 people, a theatre that seats about 1700, and a small studio theatre than can seat almost 500 people. World famous orchestras and musicians perform there. At the entrance, is a model of the whole center.

Recommended Hong Kong Travel, Hong Kong tours, Hong Kong hotels.

Bali Volcanoes Helicopter Tour

Bali island in Indonesia is renowned for its natural beauty and as a fabulous tourist attraction. However, the island is also known for its terrorist attacks in recent years. Since then, the people of Bali have recovered and the island is now a hotspot for tourists from all over the world once again, especially for its beach resorts and volcano helicopter tours.

The island’s ecology and geography are greatly influenced by the towering mountain range of volcanoes that dominate the island. These majestic volcanoes created Bali’s stunning mountainous landscape and they occasionally regenerate its soils and help produce heavy rains that provide this resort island with precious fresh water.

The Balinese considered the island’s many volcanoes, lakes and spring as sacred and treat them with respect and awe. If you are a tourist traveling to Bali for your holiday vacation, you will be awestruck with the sheer majesty of the volcanoes. These natural landscapes are major tourist attractions and many tourist go sightseeing the volcanoes on helicopter tours so that they can view the volcanoes in all its splendor and take awesome pictures. The island is still continually being formed by volcanic activities.

Bali is located over a major fault zone where the Indo-Australian plate collides with the Sunda plate. In 1963, a violent eruption on Mount Agung killed thousands of people and utterly destroyed many rice fields and irrigation network.

The dramatic lava flows on the north eastern faces of Mt Agung is the newest landforms, showing what the island may look like in ancient pre-historic time. It is a fascinating sightseeing experience, almost like a scene out of Jurassic Park.

Perhaps, the most popular volcano for tourists to visit and go sightseeing is Mount Batur. This grand old dame of a volcano sits in a giant caldera that contains a lake that is a few miles long and over a mile wide. Mount Batur is actually a very active volcano and can erupt moment as it erupted with great frequency but the eruptions are less violent these days except in a giant eruption in 1917 which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed hundreds of temples and villages.

Hiking up Mount Batur in the wee small hours of the the morning has become something of a “must do” thing for many tourists in Bali. You will need to bring along a sweater as it can get a little chilly at the volcano summit.

There is also a little coffee shop at the rim selling drinks for thirsty hikers and many children and women in flip flops balancing buckets of soft drinks on their heads scampering around trying to earn your tourist dollar. As the sun rises, you will get a picturesque view of Lombok and other surrounding islands.

One very interesting hike on Mt Batur is the climb down the inside of the crater from Penelokan to Kedisan. There are boats at Toya Bungkah Lake to take you across the lake to a village called Trunyan. This village is notorious for its mortuary traditions because instead of cremating or burying their deceased, the Trunyan villagers leave dead human bodies to decompose naturally in a designated cemetery.

Although Bali is known for rice cultivation, its volcanic soil is actually not well suited for such activities. The soil is finely textured and well drained, so water soaks through the soil rapidly and thus precious water is wasted. The solution therefore lies in repeated and vigorous ploughing which make the soil less permeable.

So if you are visiting Bali for your holiday vacations, do not miss out a sightseeing trip to view Bali’s majestic volcanoes, better yet, take a helicopter tour of this spectacular tourist attraction.