Posts Tagged ‘Style’

From The Style Glossy More>>

From The Style Glossy More>>
Love the great outdoors but hate the idea of sleeping on the ground in a lumpy sleeping bag and taking cold showers? Then the increasingly popular trend of “glamping” (glamour + camping) is for you.

Read more on WLNS Lansing

Have fun in KENYA with style : Cheap flights to Kenya

Most people visit Kenya to go on a safari to see the fantastic wildlife. However, there are other things to do there that are completely off the beaten track of regular tourism. On a recent visit, I went to visit a new golf course development 30 miles north of Mombasa, then went on to stay in an exclusive beach house on the island of Lamu, even further north.

Kenya lies astride the equator on the eastern coast of Africa. Kenya is bordered in the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake Victoria and Uganda. The climate of Kenya is as varied as its physical structure. Climatic conditions vary from the tropical humidity of the coast, through the dry heat of the hinterland and northern plains, to the cool air of the plateau and mountains.

Getting Around by Air

Kenya Airways operates scheduled services to Kisumu (on the shore of Lake Victoria), Lamu, Malindi and Mombasa. Air Kenya offers scheduled flights from Nairobi to Amboseli, Lamu, Malindi, Masai Mara, Mombasa, Lewa, Nanyuki, Meru, Samburu and Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania). Safarilink operates scheduled services between Nairobi’s Wilson Airport and the popular safari destinations; Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Chyulus, Naivasha, Nanyuki, Lewa, Samburu, Lamu, Kiwayu and Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania). Mombasa Air Safaris has scheduled services linking Mombasa, Diani Beach and Malindi with Lamu, Amboseli and Masai Mara. In addition there are several private charter companies that serve over 150 airstrips around the country.

Getting Around by Train: Kenya has an efficient and comfortable rail service connecting Nairobi to Mombasa, Kisumu and Malaba,. The overnight Nairobi-Mombasa service offers first and second class options but it is popular and for most of the time you need to book in advance

Getting Around by Road: A wide network of buses runs throughout the country connecting almost every town. It is cheaper to travel by bus than train and often quicker but sometimes crowded. However, there is a highly-developed light aviation industry with daily scheduled flights operating to most towns and game parks in Kenya. If their schedules don’t suit you, you can always charter your own light aircraft or, even better, a helicopter to take you from door to door.

When to go: The main tourist season is in January and February, when the weather is hottest and driest. At this time, the animals in the wildlife parks tend to congregate more around the watercourses, making them easier to spot. However, the parks can get crowded and rates for accommodation soar – also make sure you avoid Christmas and Easter unless you want to pay much higher prices. From June to October, the annual wildebeest migration takes place, with thousands of animals streaming into the Masai Mara National Reserve from the Serengeti. During the long rains (the low season, spanning from March to the end of May) things are much quieter. Wildlife is harder to spot and mosquitoes are rife, a combination that keeps most tourists away.

What to See: Kenya Safaris are among the most exciting adventures the world over. The vast wildlife, the many sunny beaches, the different people groups all add up to a worthwhile investment and a luxury not found in many places. Kenya Safaris have proved to be a very popular byword in the tourism sector.  Following are some of the highlights of travel to Kenya. Kenya offers an array of Golf courses for golf lovers. The Golfing fraternity in Kenya is made up of the affluent in society. It is therefore referred to as a game for the rich. Most tour operators will organize Golfing Safaris for their clients who are interested.

You will find the best national parks, national forests, wilderness areas, and public lands in Kenya by your outdoor interest with GORP’s Kenya Parks Guide. Get parks information and outdoor resources, including campground information and trail maps, to help you book your next outdoor Kenya vacation. Some national parks are: The Aberdares National Park, Amboseli National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Maasai Mara National Park, Mt. Elgon National Park, Mt. Kenya National Park, The Samburu and Shaba Reserves, Tsavo East and Tsavo West

Finding cheap flights to Kenya is not that easy, you need to do researching as well as planning ahead of time. Airfares are usually the most expensive part of a vacation trip, next to it would be hotel accommodations, this is why most of those who plan to visit the Kenya would surely want to go after those cheap flights to Kenya. Nevertheless, once you arrive in the country, most of the things you will find there have adequately cheap prices, like food, transportation, souvenir items, clothing stuffs, and other accessories you may want to buy, way much cheaper compared to buying the same things from other countries.

There are many specially trained professional Travel Agents will always help you to book a convenient flight to Kenya and cheapflightsafrica.co.uk is one of them so just call them to book flights which will best suit your budget and travel needs.

40 Mile Reds. Georgia Style! – Part-1

We all have that tendency to whine a little when someone says, “It’s a 40 mile run, but the fish ought to be there”.Well, let me take all the doubts out of making that long run decision.If bottom fishing is your game,the Red Snapper is biting as good as last year,if not a little better.

The opportunity arose for me to make the long run in comfort to do some bottom fishing.So,I decided to load up on the “Hoss Fly”,a 30-ft.Topaz Captained by Rick Stallard.Once again, I was off to the 40-mile ledge southeast of the Georgia Coast.My favorite place to fish on our small, but fertile 100 – mile coastline.

A pleasant surprise awaited us in 70 feet.of water on the journey east.From the tower of the “Hoss Fly”,we watched birds swoop and dive at the water from a mile away. When we got close, the answer was clear.The bait marked up in textbook form on the CVS 106 bottom machine.We knew the bait was not going to be a problem after that marking!Goggle Eyes by the thousands swarmed with the structure along with sardines the length of an unsharpened pencil.

We heard tale of some very large Boston Mackerel in the area, but our Sabiki’s boasted only Goggles and Sardines.I did not see that as a problem.  The size of the baits we caught was plenty big enough to get my adrenaline pumping,and after about 60 baits were in the well,we headed east another 20 miles.

As we approached the holy numbers,we talked of how good the fishing has been,and how good it BETTER be today! Capt. Matt Amie and I retired our beanbags and began making bottom rigs. Within a few short minutes,we had 6 rigs ready to send down as we idled slowly up to the number I had programmed in the GPS. We were ready.We all stared at the CVS 106 waiting for the bottom to blow up on the screen.

Finally, after several passes, there she was.That beautiful,bright colored marking rising high off the bottom and pointing sharply into the current. Rick screamed for the crew to “Send ‘em!” I just watched on the first go-round to see the brutal “butt whipping’”get put on some of our crew members who had never caught a Red Snapper.I watched eagerly as the 16 ounce weight peeled line off the Tidewater GOLD 30 Reels as they carried the live Sardines to the bottom.

The crew quickly slammed the levers on the reels to strike,and I instructed them to make 3 full reels off the bottom to prevent any hang up on the structure.It was about 5 seconds, and the screaming and feet shuffling began!There’s nothing quite like hearing the screams of a happy Angler hooked up with a BIG fish and the Captain on the Radio in the background telling his partners “We are Tripled Up!”

Deadliest Catch – Adirondack Style

Experience 5 star luxury accommodations in Japanese style

â??The Land of the Rising Sun’ has always been a magical place, filled with centuries-old customs and traditions. To many, Japan is mysterious. Geishas, cherry blossoms, Sumo wrestling, and Samurai swords are all very attractive to the tourists who enjoy experiencing new â?? and old – civilizations.

Japan is known for many cultural facets, including its incredibly relaxing landscaped Tsukiyama (hill), Karesansui (dry) and Chaniwa (tea) gardens, which are filled with ponds, streams, paths bridges, and stepping stones. These beautifully enhanced landscapes are sanctuaries, bringing the beholder peace and tranquility in a stressful world.

Traveling to Far East Asia to explore over three thousand islands is not exactly a vacation everyone can afford. Either time, money, or both could be lacking. Such a voyage may also be very exhausting, which may be the opposite of what a large number of people expect from a holiday. This raises the question: is there a way to experience Japanese culture, but without extensive, tiresome travel?

Japanese-style retreats with five star luxury accommodations are very popular today. They are very trendy, and can even be found around Melbourne or the CBD, at the foot of the beautiful Dandenong Ranges. Originally known as â??Corhanwarrabul,’ these low mountain ranges, which consist of rolling hills, steep, weathered valleys, and thick temperate rainforest, are the ideal location for a first-class resort.

Luxury accommodation at a Japanese mountain retreat is suitable for everyone, and not only the anxious businessman. Young lovers may be looking for a romantic setting to propose, couples celebrating their anniversary can renew their vows, and stressed-out parents may need a day away from the kids. Some companies will offer a night or weekend at a prominent resort to their employees as a bonus, while other firms will book a few rooms for prospective clients, or associates as an incentive.

Individuals, couples or groups staying at a Japanese-style mountain retreat in Victoria can enjoy many advantages over traditional lodging facilities. They include:

Stylish, minimalistic, Japanese-style abodes (with modern conveniences like a TV, or a DVD and CD player, for those who cannot quite let go of every-day life).
Complete privacy â?? services can be provided to your room.
Various meal possibilities â?? you can dine in the privacy of your quarters, order a delicious six course Japanese or Thai banquet, or use the fully equipped kitchen in your room to prepare yourself a Western-style breakfast.
A deluxe ofuro (deep tub) overlooking your very own private, picturesque Japanese garden.
In-house massages, â??Hinoki Mint Mineral’ or â??Neroli Cyprus’ bath soaks,and various other, soothing spa services.
Experience the art of a traditional tea ceremony
Japanese atmosphere through the use of Tatami (traditional straw matting), Shoji (moveable screens used to partition areas of the home), and authentic Japanese Niwa (gardens). Each sanctuary has stones and Tsukubai lanterns to represent the elements of water, fire, and earth.

Despite the rumors, luxury accommodations in a Japanese-style retreat are not expensive. They are actually quite affordable and can bring you the relaxation you so desperately need, but without the usual travel delays, bad restaurant experiences, and unsatisfactory hotel services.

Exclusive Boutique Style Bali Hotels

The basic idea is to combine the conveniences of a five-star resort with the cultural richness of a Balinese private home. A Bali hotel experience of a different kind.

Over the years this type of accommodation has increased vastly in popularity with travelers looking for something special and exclusive.

The difference between large hotel chains and boutique hotels is that they don’t provide 100′s of rooms but instead secluded luxury in small and intimate resorts.

A “home away from home” is a bit a stressed expression, but it describes quite accurately what you may find. A really private space in a total different location, thousands of miles away from home. You already could find that easily in many Bali hotels that are always different than big city hotels and even more so in boutique hotels.

All amenities are usually provided in these resorts to make you feel comfortable. Individual service with a personal touch makes all the difference, and a villa with an selection of things you don’t want to miss like a sound system and satellite TV, several cozy in- and outdoor areas for relaxation, and refreshingly different styled bathrooms surely add to the ingredients to make you enjoy your stay.

Some icing on the cake may be a private Jacuzzi, plunge or swimming pool. What would be life in the tropics without it.

A resort in Ubud was ahead of its time and has been copied by newly built ones a several times since then. It’s the Pita Maha, build by a member of the Royal family of Ubud in Bali. The concept of a river view resort with spa is taken from the Tjampuhan hotel and greatly refined through adding privacy by establishing a exclusive luxury villa concept. More about this resort later.

On the ocean side it was Four Seasons in Jimbaran who first successfully introduced the private villas concept within a hotel. Of course they also went to Ubud to build The Four Seasons Sayan. Overlooking the Ayung river it became too small for the demand already and new villas have been added.

The leading resorts in this field try to accomplish a secluded setting of each villa, permitting undisturbed outdoor life with outdoor dining areas. So life within nature can be experienced in Bali style. Some of the villas have outdoor bathrooms and private plunge pools as well.

Many known Bali hotels and resorts are renovating and redesigning themselves to follow this trend. Alam Kul Kul in Legian added boutique elements, The Villas in Seminyak are a good example to fully mature this concept, all villas have a private swimming pool and offer the privacy requested by clients.

In Jimbaran the Jimbaran Puri bali is a good beach side concept and must be booked early. The negative side of Boutique resorts is really the limited availability of rooms. It seems that because of the initially understated expectancy a few years back when the success of small high end resorts wasn’t guaranteed, some of them are maybe build a bit too small.

Now the situation is very much different, travelers looking for that special place to spend a vacation, and are willing to pay for the extra luxury. The Ubud area is leading the way with resorts such as Kamandalu Resort, The Alila or the Natura Resort, one of the better and most convincing additions.

In the meanwhile we saw the opening of many new intimate small Bali hotels over the last few years, it seems a trend unbroken despite the slow down and recent recovery in the Bali tourism industry. Bali is once again the tropical dream location on a small island that currently attracts more individual travelers than mass group tours. Personally I am happy with this development and hope it will stay like this, as it supports space and tranquility for a personal experience in a location that ‘is made’ to be experienced this way.

Christmas Vacation – Island Style

Every year, millions of people decide to spend Christmas and New Years in another state, country, or continent. For those wishing to escape to the sunny south, but still be relatively close to home, spending the holidays in the Bahamas is a great alternative. Out of the seven hundred islands that make up the Bahamas, Elbow Cay, a small island in the Abacos, is a wonderful place to celebrate the season with friends and family.

Christmas and New Years are one of a kind on Elbow Cay. The first thing everyone notices during the holidays is the Hope Town Lighthouse, located in the North-central part of the island. The lighthouse has thousands of lights strung from its observation deck to its base. Every night, the lighthouse is lit up, while its lights sparkle in the night. Many houses and restaurants also prepare for the holidays with lights and decorations – even though it looks a bit strange without any winter white snow.

The holiday season also brings many events such as the annual Christmas musical at the local church. The local children rehearse for months on the play, as well as the many songs they must learn. Tickets are free, although they are limited, and donations are encouraged. Donations are then given to an orphanage in Nassau. There is also a golf cart parade that tours the town. Since most people on the island drive golf carts instead of cars, they decorate them with ribbons, lights, shells, and anything else they can think of. Similar to the golf cart parade, a parade of boats cruise the waters around the islands, and show off their lights and decorations for everyone to see.

New years, however, is another story. All the islands in Abaco have their own version of a fireworks display, but Elbow Cay has two! A few nights before New Years Eve, a local company puts on a spectacular fireworks display on the water, nestled between two islands. The best place to view the show is on the most Southern beach on the island. At low tide you can even sit on the islands of sand that form in the shallow waters. On New Years Eve, all the local bars are open, and have special dinners and events. This is the only night of the year that a cover charge is in effect. This is the place to be until midnight, because once the clock strikes twelve, everyone floods the street to watch the second fireworks display. The fireworks can be seen from anywhere in town, although a favorite place to view them is from the deck of any boat in the Harbour. Once the display is complete, Junkanoo begins. Junkanoo, similar to Carnival, is a cultural event in the Bahamas that consist of many native costumed dancers parading down the street while dancing to the drums and whistles of the band. Everyone joins in and dances through the streets while following the parade through town.

After years of traditional holidays at home, spending Christmas in the Bahamas is something that everyone should experience. Celebrating the season on the islands of the Caribbean is priceless.