Posts Tagged ‘Adventure’

Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure Trailer

The movie trailer to the 1989 comedy about two dudes named Bill and Ted. Great film, if you haven’t seen it, you should! The movie starred Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and George Carlin.

Motorhome Hire New Zealand ? How To Be A Careful Camper & Have The Best Start Possible For Your NZ Holiday Adventure

10 helpful tips on how to be a careful camper while visiting NZ in your Motor home.
Knowledge provided from experts with many years of experience and also from valuable customer feedback.

1. Arrival and Pick Up After And Before Long Haul Flights
It is highly recommended that you stay in a NZ Hotel or Motel for your first and last night of your New Zealand visit to avoid being overtired and to start your NZ holiday relaxed and refreshed. Be sure to book into a Hotel or Motel near Auckland or Christchurch Airport in advance.

2. For Peak Travel Over Christmas and New Year – Pre Book Your Holiday Park In New Zealand
We strongly recommend that you pre-book your campsite in advance to avoid later disappointment. Most NZ Holiday parks are equipped to please a wide range of people for a minimal cost. Within an attractive landscaped setting (often beside a beach or lake) they provide sites for tents, caravans and campervans. If you’re setting up camp or parking a Motor Home, you can choose to stay on a powered or non-powered site.

3. Freedom Camping
Each district in New Zealand has different rules in regards to freedom camping (and parking of campervans). We suggest that you contact the nearest Visitor Centre in the region you visit, to find out about camping in a particular location. The impact of freedom camping on the environment can be a strain to the environment – New Zealand Tourism does not recommend freedom camping in New Zealand.

In certain Areas in New Zealand it is forbidden to free camp – for example National Parks etc. If you do freedom camp it is very important to remember to not to leave any rubbish behind or any traces of your stay. Please consider the environment when you do free camp and be a careful visitor – leave only footprints! When you hire a Motor home in NZ, most if not all NZ motor home companies provide you with a list of Holiday Parks containing the contact details and many more ideas on where to camp.

4. Battery Power of Your NZ Motorhome
It is not always necessary to go to a campground each night but it is recommended to do this every third or forth night to empty toilet and waste water tanks and to get plenty of fresh water. You can camp on the side of the road or anywhere else as long as there are no signs indicating NO CAMPING or PARKING overnight.

5. Toilets on board your NZ Motor home
On board toilets from Motor homes can only be legally emptied into so called Dump stations. These are normally found in holiday parks.

6. Ferry Crossing North to South or South to North Island, NZ
Many visitors ask if they can exchange their Motor home at the ferry terminals in Wellington (North Island) or in Picton on the South Island.
Most campervan companies do not have any facilities or depots in those areas and the vehicle has to go onto the Cook Strait Ferry with you.

7. Peak Season Travel on Interislander or Bluebridge Ferry NZ
During peak season travel (especially during the Christmas and New Year period and during School holidays – availability for motor vehicles can be restricted and it is highly recommended that you pre- book the passage in advance to avoid waiting in long queues at the respective terminals or have to wait for the next day to get on a ship.
A daytime sailing is highly recommended as the journey of about 3 hours is very scenic and often Dolphins swim alongside the ship and make this trip a memorable one.

8. Manual vs. Automatic Transmission
Why are most NZ Motor homes equipped with manual gear shift and not automatic transmission?
Many visitors ask for a campervan or motor home with automatic transmission.
The reason why bigger NZ motor homes are equipped with mainly manual transmission is due to the way roads are built in New Zealand – many hills and mountains which means a vehicle with manual gear shift drives much easier in such conditions.

9. NZ Road Restrictions
There are a handful of road restrictions in place from most if not all NZ motor home and campervan companies – if you drive on any of the following roads – all insurances in place will be voided and you will be in breach of the rental agreement.

North Island:
Ninety Mile Beach – Northland
North of Colville Township – Coromandel

South Island:
Skippers Canyon – Queenstown
Ball Hutt Road – Mt Cook

North and South Island:
Any roads closed by Traffic Police or other authority.

10. Fuel Costs in NZ
Because of constantly changing world oil prices, fuel costs in New Zealand are not easy to predict. Current information will be available upon request from vehicle providers.

There are 1000 or more ways to improve your planning for a successful camper van holiday in New Zealand – we hope that you have found these 9 hints for your campervan hire useful and informative.

Adventure in Thailand

Adventure takes many forms : a new relationship or job, sushi for the first time, or even a walk through an L.A. slum at 2 am on a Saturday night – all qualify.  

Webster’s dictionary defines adventure as “an exciting or remarkable experience.” It’s when we break out of our daily routine and dare to take on a new challenge, boldly going into territory that is unfamiliar to us.  

But most people, when they think of adventure, think of travel. And though pretty much the whole world has been explored before by other people (with Marco Polo setting the benchmark several hundred years ago), what matters is that it is your discovery. Adventure travel is a highly personal thing and what it teaches you about the vast world that surrounds you and its relationship to you is what makes it both worthwhile and essential.

This is probably why adventure travel keeps growing in popularity. In a world gone wrong, cluttered with technology, self-interested politicians, bureaucracy, greed and numerous other complications, it is crucial to get back to the basics of life and to set personal challenges that bring out the noble savage in us.

So remove yourself to another place, with strange people and customs, follow your nose, trust your instincts, and find a part of yourself you’d almost forgotten.

Thailand is an ideal location to live out these dreams – or alternate realities. With more than 25,000 square kilometers of national park land, islands, mountains, and a welcoming people, new and enlivening experiences are waiting for you to live them out.

Though there are endless adventures available here, two of the more popular possibilities involve going as high and as low as you can.

Scuba Diving : The Amphibian Within

There’s no getting around it. It’s programmed into our DNA that we are creatures of the sea, with a deep-seated desire to return to it. Meander aimlessly on thoughtful walk some lazy Sunday and your feet, of their own accord, will inevitably take you to the water – a lake, a pond, an ocean or a very large puddle – whatever is closest. We look out and yearn to return to our roots. Thanks to Jacques Cousteau, it is now possible, for a short time anyway, to return to the sea completely – for as long as the air in the tank lasts.

Thailand, with its countless beaches, coral reefs and modern dive schools is a popular spot to learn to scuba dive. Thousands of proud new divers earn their PADI international dive certificates every year.

It can be a bit scary at first – our instincts also tell us that we can’t breathe under water – but once you master the basic technicalities, there’s no experience like it. You have freedoms undreamed of by land dwellers. You are weightless, and can go left, right, forward backwards, up and down – and you are surrounded by colourful fish and plants. It’s another world down there.

But like anything worthwhile, it does take a bit of work and discipline to make your first dive. Over the course of a week or so, you take a step by step open water course to ensure maximum safety. You’ll start out in a classroom, studying buoyancy and pressure – you even have homework and exams to do (What? Homework at the beach?!!) This is combined with practice, starting in shallow water, learning to use the equipment getting comfortable with the idea – and soon you’re heading off to the open water by boat, working your way up to dives as deep as 18 meters. In less than a week, you are granted your certificate and can dive anywhere in the world unaccompanied – the beginning of a beautiful new friendship with the other two-thirds of the planet.  
Where to Go Under

With more than 3,000 km of coastline and countless islands, Thailand has enough dive sites to keep any enthusiast busy for a lifetime. Most divers head out from island and mainland areas on day trips, but it is also possible to explore more remote and less inhabited areas on liveaboard boats, heading out for several days at a time.

All of the places listed have several certified dive schools.

On the Gulf of Thailand side, or east coast of Thailand’s southern peninsula, the main diving area is in and around the Samui Archipelago, which includes the main islands of Koh Pa Ngan, the well-touristed Koh Samui, and Koh Tao, which is the country’s most popular diving island, featuring several coral reefs a short boat ride away.

On the Andaman Sea side, or west coast, are the islands of Phuket (the most popular holiday island in the country), Koh Phi Phi, the Krabi mainland, and the up-and-coming Koh Lanta.

Central Thailand’s south coast also has a few spots. Some divers base themselves in the wild nightlife town of Pattaya, but it’s a bit of a boat ride to the best dive sites. Heading east, almost to the Cambodian border is the Koh Chang National Marine Park, a group of more than 40 protected islands, surrounded by coral reefs.

Trekking : Because it’s there.

Thailand’s north is a gorgeous place where lushly vegetated mountains rise majestically from the earth – the tropical tail end of the Himalayan chain. For some mysterious reason mountains were made to be climbed. There seems to be an innate desire to struggle to peaks and look down on creation as if we were God almighty. When you are at a great height, taking in vast areas of creation in a single glance, the world, for a fleeting moment, belongs to you alone. In Thailand’s north, you can do just that, with the added bonus that along the way, you can rest overnight with Thailand’s hilltribe people. There are several different hilltribes, including the Akha, Meo, Lisu and Lahu – all with their own unique traditional lifestyle. These people migrated from Southern China into what until relatively recently was uninhabited territory less than two centuries ago, and set up shop as subsistence farmers.

Treks can run from two days to a week or more, as you hike through the jungle pathways on foot, by elephant (a daunting prospect at first), and by bamboo river raft, breathing fresh air, watching abundant wildlife and tiring your limbs, until you come upon the welcoming hilltribe village that you will call home for the night.

An evening with a Thai hilltribe is an unforgettable experience. After your hike, the food tastes fantastic, and along with the villagers you settle sit around the fire, singing songs and watching traditional dances – be prepared to do a number or two yourself from your home country.

After a few hours with these charming people, you may find yourself tempted to give up your career in accountancy, or whatever it is you do back home, shed yourself of all your possessions and live the simple life of honest hard work and a bowl of rice at the end of the day. Tempted, yes, but after a little reflection on the labours you have to put in for that rice bowl, you’ll probably opt to take home a few of the colourful handicrafts, and treasure your memories from the land of comfort from whence you came. Really, it’s better this way.

Trekking : Where to Start

Chiang Mai, in Thailand’s mountainous north was the original home of hilltribe trekking, but in recent years a few other places have gotten into the act. Chiang Mai itself is a relaxed city of about one million people, and the springboard to some great trekking locations, including Doi Inthanon National Park, which is the host to Thailand’s tallest peak at 2700 meters. The second city of trekking is the more somnambulant Chiang Rai, a bit further north. Both cities have very good airports and regular flights from Bangkok and elsewhere.

One young upstart in Thailand’s trekking world is Nan, northeast of Chiang Mai, and the coldest spot in Thailand (which is nonetheless pretty darn warm if it snows in your hometown). New luxury hotels have been popping up here recently, yet many of the hilltribes in this area are new to visitors – so it’s possible to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Also becoming popular is the charming little town of Pai, which has developed into a Bohemian arts center for disillusioned hippie folk from both Thailand and abroad. The town is in the valley, surrounded by evergreen and rugged mountains with several trekking trails and hidden waterfalls.

Thailand has beautiful place very much if you come to tour in thailand , assure that ,you do will not be defeated certainly.

Step in Disney?s Famous Dinner Show & Wild Adventure

At the proximity of Walt Disney World Resort, Arabian Nights dinner show is held in a big theater. This dinner show is famous in Orlando and in the world as well. The performers are well trained horse riders and actors. The impeccable acting of the characters creates a perfect medieval atmosphere with the knights and the horses. Just see how the fairy tales come to live. The whole drama centers round the main theme that is the love story of a princesses and a prince which results into a grand wedding celebration.

Arabian Nights dinner show is performed in the world largest climate controlled equestrian arena with one thousand and two hundred seated facilities for audiences. The attractions of the show include chariot races, bareback riding, etc. And the performer horses are from around the world. Almost thirteen breed horses can be seen in the show. The types of the horses are Arabian, American Quarter horse, Andalusian, Appaloosa, Belgian, Canadian Warmblood, Donkey, Lippizzaner, Paint, Percheron, Standardbred, and Saddlebred. Around two dozens theme acts has been played in this dinner show to captivate the audience since its opening.

Thus buy Arabian Nights Tickets and enjoy to the fullest. The great combination of show and the dinner increases its popularity day by day. However, the menu served during the show includes various mouthwatering dishes and gastronomic elements. Moreover, wedding cake is also served among the wedding guests as dessert.

Islands of Adventure offer many exciting adventures for the wild adventure seekers. People of all ages can visit this island to discover this world of fantasy. Kids find very interesting for the comic book characters like Dr. Seuss come to life in Seuss Landing. Buy Island of Adventure Tickets to explore the other interesting themed islands such as Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, and the Lost Continent. Every theme island has its unique theme of attraction. Apart from these, Islands of Adventure is a home to many dinning locations such as the Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous. So buy these Disney World Tickets to enjoy the Disney magic and Disney adventures.

An Ecuador Adventure

The Republic of Ecuador is located in the Andeas and regarded as a famous tourist destination for many reasons. Traveling to Ecuador means climbing mountains, trekking the famous Amazon Mountain, careless walk along with the inviting beaches, and hospitalities at the Ecuador hotels and inns, isn’t it? Many people come to this country for visiting the acclaimed Galapagos Islands. In addition to above mentioned attractions, the country has a lot more to amuse all travelers that come here to enjoy a great time here:

Quito:
Being the capital city, Quito clearly displays imprints of colonial architecture. Ecuador is considered the smallest yet most beautiful country in the entire South America. Features that make the country look different and distinguished is the architecturally masterpieces of white washed buildings with red tile roofs in contrast with a clear view of the modern Ecuador Hotels.

In addition, you can observe snow-capped mountains almost throughout the year. The Avenida Amazonas is another interesting feature which is considered an active area with thousand of good people watching and outdoor cafes.

Avenue of the Volcanoes:
At Ecuador, you cannot resist visiting the famous Avenue of the Volcanoes. It is a must see place which is located in the south of Ecuadors Capital. If you run down the valley, you will find so many mountain peaks dotted with inactive volcanoes.

The Galapagos Islands:
The Galapagos Islands is one of the major attractions of visiting Ecuador. Located about 600 miles off the mainland, the Galapagos Islands are a collection of 13 islands with unusual wildlife.

Indeed, the country has a lot to offer. Plan your visit now!

Travel to New Zealand for an Amazing Adventure

New Zealand is the perfect destination for those who enjoy travelling alone. The country is small enough to easily find your way around and lodging is affordable and the people welcoming and affable. Organizing your own itinerary and travel arrangements can be fun and liberating; you choose where to go, when and for how long! New Zealand is about free choice and independence with its spectacular mountains and when you see its mountains and landscape that is exactly what you will feel, free.

The main cities in New Zealand are Auckland and Christchurch, and Wellington the capital. Other cities of interest include Napier and Nelson, Tauranga and Rotorua. Queenstown should definitely be on your list as one of the top destinations to visit in this fascinating and unique country. The scenery in New Zealand is magnificent and as diverse as you can imagine. The North and South Islands are completely different to each other but both have rivers, fiords, glaciers, mountains and dramatic beaches.

People come to New Zealand for adventure; they are not looking for the norm but seeking something really unique. And that is exactly what they get. Water based activities can be experienced on one of the numerous lakes, in a swiftly-flowing river or in the seas, try anything from surfing and deep sea diving to kayaking, parasailing or fishing.

If it is the ultimate excitement you are after there are plenty of opportunities for white or black water rafting, jet boating or four wheel drive practice. The Bridge walk is one you will never forget as you climb the Auckland Harbour Bridge experiencing the best views of Auckland with fully trained bridge guides. If you have come to New Zealand for bungee jumping then head to the 192m Auckland Sky Tower and make a sky jump from the top, falling at 75kph to a target at the bottom. There’s no greater thrill. You can find cheap accommodation online. You can find cheap Auckland accommodation online.

For those who like to keep their feet on land then experience a bush walk or take off to the mountains for a hike, snowboarding or skiing. If you are interested in cheap hotels, online accommodation is easy to book.

Whale watching is possible in Kaikoura on the east coast of the South Island. This is the main centre for whale watching and one of the only places in the world where you can see sperm whales. These whales can grow to more than 15m long. Orca Whales are also spotted between December to March, and humpback whales in June and July.

Penguins are an amusing species as on land waddle along upright and in the water dive and swoop like other birds do in the air. Around New Zealand there are 3 three species of penguin, the Korora is the world’s smallest at only 25cm tall and can be seen at The Marlborough Sounds, Oamaru, Akaroa Harbour, and Stewart Island. The rare hoiho, has a striking yellow eye band sweeping back from each yellow eye and can be spotted at the Otago Peninsula, and along the South Otago Coast. And the Fiordland crested penguin is one of the worlds rarest found in Fiordland and Stewart Island. Book your cheap hotels online NZ before you travel to avoid disappointment as you don’t want to miss these beautiful creatures.

New Zealand’s bird population is pretty impressive and sure to keep you occupied for hours. There are over 80 types of seabird breed found on the country’s shoreline, some only found within New Zealand whilst others migrate here from thousands of miles away. Uncommon national species can be seen at various locations including Tiritiri Matangi Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, Motuara Island in the Marlborough Sounds, and Kapiti Island.

There is a broad range of lodging choices to suit your price range, whether you can afford luxury or want to keep to a budget. Finding cheap hotels in New Zealand as you tour the country is an easy process and there are generous pickings for the free thinking traveller. Whether you need a Sydney hotel with all possible amenities, cheap accommodation in Rotorua or budget Taupo hotels, have a look online for affordable rates.

Bali Travel Offers Adventure, Wonder And History

The world is chockfull of destinations that are all worthy of consideration when itâ??s time to make holiday plans. There are not many places, however, that can compare to a particular island in the Indonesian archipelago. Bali travel melds adventure, history and wonder into a single experience that is virtually certain to create memories to last a lifetime.

Located only a few hours away from Australia by plane, this unusual destination packs a great deal of fun into 5,632 square kilometers. Here holidaymakers will find weather that is perfect practically year round. With warm tropical temperatures ranging between 20 and 33 degrees Celsius no matter the time of year, visitors to Bali are often surprised to find sunny days dominate even in the thick of the rainy season.

When Bali travel is under consideration, potential holidaymakers will find these reasons tend to draw travellers from all over the world like moths to a flame:

* The outdoor splendour â?? Bali is famous for its breathtaking geography. The island is surrounded by warm turquoise waters that lap at white sandy beaches. From quiet lagoons just right for swimming and snorkeling to more â??activeâ? beaches that call to surfers and adventure sports lovers, the waters here are ideal for year round fun. Whilst the beaches are certainly a draw, they are not the only outdoor wonder that awaits those planning Bali travel. This island is also famous for its lush tropical forests, active volcanoes, tiered rice paddies and incredible lakes and waterfalls.
* The history â?? Bali has a history that dates back thousands of years. Evidence of its most early inhabitants can be found in a variety of sites all over the island. From the temples in the Mount Agung complex to the wonderment of the Tanah Lot, visitors here will learn much about the peoples and cultures that have touched Bali throughout the ages. With its strong ties to the Hindu religion, holidaymakers will discover that many of the islandâ??s most splendid outdoor attractions have also served as places connected deeply to religion through the ages.
* The culture â?? Balinese culture is known for its distinct arts, form of dance and cuisine. Those who plan Bali travel will find themselves arriving on a island that is known the world over for its welcoming hospitality and unique traditions.
* The adventures â?? Bali is one of the few places in the world where people can get up close and personal with gray monkeys, elephants and a variety of other tropical creatures all on a single vacation. If fauna doesnâ??t appeal, those on Bali tours will find that plenty of other adventures await. Bali tours can unlock adventures that are found nowhere else in the world. From Odyssey Submarine trips that take holidaymakers into the depths that surround the island to a trip to the 11th century Elephant Cave, there is no shortage of opportunities to do and see things that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

When an experience like nothing else is desired, Bali travel will deliver. Combining adventure, wonder and history, this legendary island offers holidaymakers an opportunity to explore paradise on earth.