The friendliest people in the world. Sydney

Sydney is one of the most visited cities in Australia. Let's have a closer look at its attractions.

According to an American travel magazine Conde Nast Travel, Sydney is the world's top city, leaving such famous travel destinations as Florence, San Francisco and Bangkok far behind. Also note that this Australian megapolis got the status of the friendliest city in the world. If you're still not ready for a personal visit to Sydney, why not make an imaginary trip?The regular bus will take you from the airport to the city centre, Alfred street. So, you're at the Sydney harbour. On the left there is a famous Harbour Bridge, the 20th century architectural miracle. On the right there is a huge Sydney opera shell. There is also an observation deck, excellent for taking the photographs of the Sydney opera and a group of skyscrapers adjacent to the harbour. The Sydney Opera house is well-known all around the world. It looks like an exotic stone flower surrounded by glass skyscrapers. Some compare it with the giant seashells or the sails in the wind. The building is located at the cape and, looking at the lively sea, crowded with yachts and seagulls, one can feel what the opera's architect, Jorn Utzon, was inspired with. The famous silhouette can be found at any postcard: the opera turned into a calling card not only for Sydney, but for the whole country. Its history, by the way, is rich in controversy. The project cost a fortune, its author left the country before construction was over. But its cultural importance is worth it: there are a theatre for 1550 seats and a concert hall for 2700 seats located under one roof. There are also a Playhouse, an end-stage theatre with 398 seats, and a Studio for 400 people in the opera. The complex, which is visited by a total of 1,5 million people every year, is complemented by a library, artistic salons, cafes and restaurants. But millions of the white roof and wall tiles are fragile and demand delicate treatment. At the same time, they constantly suffer from overheating and the salty sea air. That is why great amounts of money are spent on the opera maintenance. But let's continue our walk and see other city attractions  the Sydney Tower, Sydney monorail which connects Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the Sydney central business and shopping districts. Sometimes the monorail runs through the buildings, above the water or the ground.. The whole route takes no more than half an hour, but lots of things can be observed during the trip. Our next stop is the George Street, and the huge Queen Victoria Building  the colonial-style shopping centre made of red stone. To the north of the centre there is The Rocks inner-city suburb, historic suburbs from which Sydney started. The area contains lots of private bars and restaurants and leads to the Harbour Bridge (by the way, its still nicknamed The Coathanger). Having crossed the bridge, we get to the scenic shore, then our route lies through the underwater tunnel (it lies 21 meters below the sea level), Kings Cross  the centre for Sydney nightlife, and the Australian oldest park  Hyde Park. The excursion stops at the James Cook monument which is a good starting point for the catamaran cruise around the Port Jackson harbour. Sydney is a huge city which contains a great amount of interesting cultural objects. Its impossible to observe them all, but if you have the time, visit the Australian National Maritime Museum to find out interesting facts about the sea, the boats and even surfboard. Speaking of surfing: waves are excellent, but you should never relax you vigilance.

www.allrez.com

How to choose a travel agency

The travel and tourism industry is on its peak right now and therefore, the market is full of travel agents. Almost, all come with attractive tour packages and offers for the customers.

Travel is one of the most popular activities and there are a large number of tour packages to choose from. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that you have chosen the best travel package. The problem is no so big and can be avoided by simply taking the services of a good, reliable travel agency or travel agent. But, how to make sure that the travel agency you have chosen is good enough? Don’t worry; all you have to do is a little homework before going for a particular travel agency. The increasing usage of Internet allows people to know more about different travel agencies and their packages.A good travel agency can provide you with a wide range of services. An important aspect that makes an agency a good one is their communication and support skill. A professional travel agency will have the ability to explain various choices in detail and if required or help the customer through a problem. Before choosing any travel agency one should look for its “Registration” and enquire whether the government recognizes it. The agents working for the agency must have proper license to do the job. However, registration does not guarantees professionalism or good service, but it only ensures you that the travel agency is not a fraud.A travel agency is of great help to you in planning out your vacations. Travel is usually split into two parts – business or corporate travel, and leisure or personal travel. Even though, travel agencies will be delighted to serve you all types of travel, but most of them are likely to be stronger in either business travels or leisure travel services. Ask the travel agency about their specialty. If your need is ‘leisure’ then go for the one more focused into arranging personal or leisure trips. Try to find a specialist if you have special rather than general needs.One more interesting way of knowing the goodwill of a travel agency is to carry out the acid test, i.e. ask the people what they think about the agency and its services. Ask the agency for a list of its customers and clients, and contact them to know about their opinion about the travel agency.A tourist is munificent if he is attended well. Every travel agency or guide must behave as a representative of the destination because it is through him the tourist gathers impressions and information of that particular place and country. Ask your travel agency if they take care that all the facilities provided to the traveler are comfortable enough? Do they arrange hygienic food that is reasonably priced, offer neat and clean affordable lodging etc.?These days a travel agency offers a lot of value-added services to tourists to make their vacation a memorable and luxurious one. A travel agent arranges escorted tours, discounts in hotel booking, incentive travel, and so on. A travel agency also arranges transport, hotel accommodation, and car rentals for their clients. They are also the primary source of booking for most cruise liners. Travel agencies know about weather conditions, customs and local ordinances, attractions, and so on. For international travelers, they provide necessary information on custom rules, essential papers like passports, visas, and currency exchange rates. Also, if there is any change in the itinerary in the middle of the journey, then the travel agents make alternate arrangements for the client. Find out if your travel agency offers these services at competitive prices? Traveling can be of great fun if you take a little care and choose a good travel agency. Do meticulous planning and enjoy a pleasant vacation.

www.nitintravels.com

Best travel tip for being your own travel agent

The other day I overheard a conversation between two women discussing their summer holiday plans. One was telling the other that she had gone to her local travel agent and asked for a cheap package holiday in Spain. The agent had quickly managed to find a holiday that suited and the lady booked it immediately.The other woman said that she wished she could do the same but had been unable to find a travel agent who could help. Apparently, someone she knew recommended Northern Cyprus to her. The description of its climate, fabulous beaches, beautiful scenery and welcoming local people deeply appealed to her but she had been unable to find any travel agent offering package holidays there. The person who recommended Northern Cyprus to her explained how it was possible to book flights and accommodation online but she felt apprehensive about not going through a travel agent.I was quite taken aback at hearing this admission of total dependency on travel agents and ignorance of Internet travel sites. After all, this was 2008 in the U.K. where traditional travel agents have long since been marginalised by online travel sites. Yet, as the conversation developed it became apparent that neither woman knew anything about what resources the Internet offers in this respect.It got me thinking about how many other people there were around who need tips on organizing travel online and when I got home I decided to write down the following seven steps for them.

Step 1: Finding out about the travel destinationOpen Google and type into the search box, the name of whatever country or general area you want to holiday in, followed by the words "travel information” or "travel guide". For example; "Spain travel information". Browse several of the sites your search throws up and then decide which ones give you the best travel tips relevant to your holiday needs.

Step 2: Deciding on the actual resortUse the best sites you find from step 1 to decide which resort or locality offers you most of what you want for your vacation. For example, localities with secluded beaches or beaches with lots of facilities, resorts that have plenty to keep the children occupied or quiet villages in scenic locations, etc.Having familiarised yourself with all that you want to know about the resort or locality, ascertain the nearest airports (or other relevant transportation centres).

Step 3: Finding suitable accommodationWhen you have found some resorts that satisfy your criteria, look for suitable accommodation in them. This may require typing a new search term into Google because the sites you have looked at so far may not have sufficient detailed information about specific accommodation in a given locality. They may however have some links to other sites that do. If so, check the links out before starting a new search. If you do need to do a new search, the best search term to use would be something like; Name of resort or locality followed by the word "accommodation". For example if after researching southern Spain, you had decided you liked what you had read about Mojacar as a holiday resort, you would type; "Mojacar accommodation". Here’s a tip worth remembering: you may need to refer back to the other website pages that you have already opened so keep them open by doing your accommodation search in a new tab. In case you don’t know about using tabs, take a look at your browser tools options and learn how to set your browser up so that you can open new pages in new tabs.

Step 4: Checking cheapest flight availabilityWhen you have ascertained that accommodation exists in your chosen locality, the next step is check out what flights (or other transportation) is available to get you to the resort. Open another tab on your browser and this time type in the search term, "cheapest flights" followed by the name of nearest airport. If there are other, more distant airports that you would be prepared to consider, you might want to run separate searches for each airport.Spend time on checking for flights because quite considerable variations in ticket prices exits, not only from flight operator to flight operator but also from one airport to another even when they are more or less the same distance from your departure airport and operated by the same company. Very significant price variations will also be found by trying different departure and arrival dates.

Step 5: Provisionally book accommodationAssuming that you establish the availability of flights (or other transportation) at the time you want and within your budget, you will be in a position to provisionally book accommodation. Return to the browser tab you left open with the websites providing accommodation details and follow the instructions for contacting the person or organisation offering the accommodation. Sometimes this will be an automatic online process and sometimes you will need to send an email. Submit the dates you have decided upon from the flight availability research. You will not normally be asked for a deposit at this stage but if you are, inform the accommodation owner that you want them to provisionally hold the dates until after you have booked your flight.

Step 6: Booking your flightHaving received confirmation that the accommodation is available for you between the selected dates, return to the website where you found the cheapest flight deal and book your outgoing and return flights. Very occasionally you might be unlucky and the flights on the selected dates are no longer available. If so you will need to select new dates and redo step 5.

Step 7: Confirm AccommodationOnce you have your flight has been booked you are in a safe position to confirm your accommodation booking. Usually, this will require that a deposit is paid, either online or by bank transfer. Either way, the balance is usually paid upon arrival at the accommodation.

www.best-travel-tip.com

Best Beaches In Turkey

The Finest Beaches of Turkey

When people think of grand beaches, they generally think of places like California, Florida or Hawaii, but they rarely think of a country like Turkey. Despite being under-publicised, Turkey offers a wide variety of beaches that stretch along the Mediterranean Sea.

In this article, we will take a look at the top ten beaches found in Turkey.

Patara Beach: Patara is the longest beach in the Mediterranean, and was hailed by The Sunday Times as the best beach in the world. Accommodations are limited, loungers and umbrellas are available to rent, and it is backed by ancient ruins and dunes.

Oludeniz Beach: Oludeniz is Turkey's most famous beach, and therefore in peak seasons, is the most crowded. There are good hotels to stay at, very good bars, water sports available, scuba diving and is surrounded with resorts.

Olimpos: If you are looking for a more romantic and relaxed atmosphere, then this is the beach for you. It is far more secluded and smaller than the other two beaches mentioned so far, and is backed by a forest, which is filled with Roman ruins.

Side: Only an hour away from the airport, Side is very popular with tourists. There is a village and a beach filled with fine sand, as well as some Roman ruins to explore nearby.

Iztuzu Beach: Iztuzu Beach is a national conservation area, and is one of the last breeding places in Europe of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. It can only be reached by a 20 minute boat ride from the nearby town of Dalyan. There is a lot of beach, and the water is warm and shallow. Nearby, there are some cliff tombs you can explore as well.

Cleopatra's Beach (Alanya): Alanya is one of the biggest resorts found in Turkey, and Cleopatra's beach is splendid and very popular. The beach and resort offer great accommodations, facilities and things to do. There is also an old fortress nearby.

Kemer: Kemer is a lovely seaside town located right on on the sea front. There are a number of small beaches you can visit, as well as many day-trip opportunities. Most of the beaches are made up of small pebbles, although there are a few with sandy beaches.

Bodrun: Bodrun is home to the original mausoleum, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is also home to the Castle of St Peter, which used to be a crusader fortress but now serves as the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The beaches in town are small, but many people visit them as an afterthought to sightseeing.

Pamucak Beach: Most of the beach is public, but on the south side there are some resorts. It is close to the Aqua Fantasy water park, and there is a small hotel where you can get refreshments and amenities. The water is pretty choppy, and there aren't any life guards, so be careful.

Sinop: Sinop has many fascinating things to see, and the beaches are small. Because the water comes from the Black Sea, it can be rather chilly too.

www.directline-holidays.co.uk

Trip to Ankor Wat, Cambodia

I am writing description of my trip to Cambodia for two reasons. One, I can. I bought a Smartphone recently with a small folding QWERTY keyboard and it comes with a document processor and two, because I have the time as I have decided to take a bus, as I will describe below.

I decided I wanted to go to Cambodia, mostly because the idea of having Thanksgiving in Thailand was not appealing, especially after the previous year’s Thanksgiving in Iraq. Also, leaving Thailand allowed me to renew my Visa without question and mine was about to expire the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Anyway, I decided on a package trip because I had no idea what to expect. The trip was taking a bus all the way from Bangkok to Angkor, Cambodia. I wanted to go there because I had read about the ancient ruins.

The bus trip was interesting. I had never been on a bus trip like this anywhere in the world so it was a new experience in many ways (and it gave me time to write this). The way to the Cambodian border from Bangkok was uneventful; from there on is a different story. At the border, we had to wait while our visas were processed. There I was warned about Cambodian children being thieves, later I found out they are also annoying beggars. "Beware of the children” became my general theme for the trip.

At the border, Cambodia has established a gambling zone and there are many casinos. From there, the road immediately turned to dirt and for 300 kilometers the road was bumpy as hell and the bus was hot. As uncomfortable as it was I was glad I did it. I got to see the real Cambodia and it was pretty grim. Most Cambodians live the way they did for thousands of years, in simple wooden/grass thatched stilted houses, catching fish from ditches along the road and working in rice patties. There were rice patties pretty much the whole way, with the occasional water buffalo to add flavor (to both the scenery as well as the rice patties. Angkor is an oasis of civilization just as Las Vegas is in the US, with the nice size airport and many hotels springing up out of nowhere. This is all supported by the tourism brought in by the ruins. The picture below is typical of the houses encountered on the way to Angkor.

The ruins were amazing, some older than 1000 years. The ruins were mostly built by some Khmer king in honor of either a Hindu god (mainly Sewa) or Buddha and they were often used by both. Sewa is the god that created the world and his symbol is the phallic, go figure. The other predominant symbol is the Hindu angel, Upsorn (represented by a beautiful woman). So, between the phallic and beautiful angel symbols everywhere I doubt there was any governing happening at these palaces. Buddha images are there as well, but not as prevalent as the Hindu icons. We visited 6 ruins, Phnom Bakeng, Banteay Srey, Banteay Samrei, Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Bayon, and Angkor Wat.

Three of these ruins impressed me the most and I will describe them below:

1. Angkor Wat was by far the most impressive and biggest with a central spire that had steps at a 70 degree angle. I climbed the steps on all fours and must have looked quite funny. There were thousands of people there joining me on my journey up these steps.

2. Angkor Thom contains hundreds, possibly thousands, of stone face carvings. This structure was a stunning sight.

3. Ta Prohm was interesting in a different way. Trees have taken over the ruins, which further instills the oldness of the area. This area was used in the movie Tomb Raider.

Unfortunately, this is the area surrounding Angkor used by Pol Pot for his Killing fields in the mid 1970s. The Cambodians have constructed a monument for the millions who died during that time. The monument contains human bones found in the surrounding fields and is pretty gruesome. So the area is full of history, both old and new.

The trip was fun and a learning experience. The only times I felt even remotely unsafe was both entering and leaving Cambodia and when I read the sign in front of the Ankor Hospital warning of an outbreak of dengue fever. I am glad I didn’t get it. Admittedly it took me a week and a half to figure out how to get the file out of my phone, which is why it is taken till now to get this description out to you.

www.asiaproductsllc.com

Family Holidays with Haven

I have always been a fan of holidays in England, or even better, holidays in Wales. Sometimes the last thing you want to do when you have very small children is to go through the hassle of dealing with the airport to get to some resort in another country, especially when you have no way of even knowing what it is going to be like when you get there.

My family and I have been enjoying UK Holidays for many, many years after our last disaster of a trip abroad. While we like to go all over, our favourite family holiday, by far, is KilnPark near Tenby in Pembrokeshire (South West Wales).

KilnPark is a caravan park run by Haven that provides all the amenities that you would expect. These include electricity and running water and the very best in variety entertainment, think X Factor meets Paul Daniels, and everything in between. They really do offer a cracking programme of club style singers and top notch comedians every night of your holiday. Sometimes you will even be spoilt for choice. All this is a stones throw away from the beautiful Southern coast of Wales.

No caravan? That will not be a problem, the park caters for families with or without their own caravan. These can either be hired from the park itself or from other holiday makers that hire out their own caravan.

Trust me you will never want to see another Costa after you’ve been to KilnPark, you’ll come back again and again, for all your family holidays in Wales.

www.havenholidays.com

Tel Aviv. The taste of antiquity

Tel Aviv is ancient and modern, quiet and energetic. This is a good starting point for your trip around Israel. It is from the ancient port of Jaffa that the prophet Jonah started his voyage for Tarshish and was swallowed by a fish. It is here that, according to a Greek myth, Perseus faced Medusa. The old Jaffa city is Turkish-style, with cobbled little squares, houses and art galleries, shops, clubs and restaurants. Rest at the lush lawns, attend improvised concerts and dine at one of the fish delicaAies restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean sea and the old fishing port the day flies by quickly. Churches and minarets at the sky line create a fantastic atmosphere. The old walled city is an eclectic and exotic mixture of cultures and aromas. Flea markets attract treasure hunters looking for a rare finding among the great amount of various objects from jewelleries and pottery to exotic carpets. Bargaining is widely spread. Lively and colourful. Tel-Aviv has many faces, each depicting its historic traces, changes and the country's life. At the same time, it is the centre for Israeli culture, entertainment and trade. Not only is it the concentration is commerce, fashion and industry it boasts a great amount of cafes, restaurants and clubs, many of which are opened till dawn. Despite its hectic style, most tourists prefer walks to transport, and even though the city is rather small, it is suitable for a holiday and business alike. The youngest and the oldest in Israel. The city is only 100 yeas old. Or at least 5000 years old. It all depends on the reference point. Tel Aviv was founded as the green suburb of the ancient Jaffa in the beginning of the 20th century. Here are some things that make Tel Aviv what it is: Bauhaus architecture, music traditions followed by the Israel philharmonic orchestra, and an artistic lifestyle the city is rich in museums, galleries and sculptures adorning the city streets. Each day a new theatre, dance or music performance is waiting for you from modern to classic ones, staged at one of the numerous theatres and concert halls all around the city. Tel Aviv is in all respects an ideal starting point for trips around the country. Everything is in the proximity all attractions of Israel are within a one-day drive, a trip to Jerusalem, Haifa or Beersheba takes just around an hour. A two hour's drive and you are by the Dead Sea. Eilat is only within a 1-hour flight from Tel Aviv. That is why Tel Aviv is often called a non-stop city. Its endless diversity and an opportunity to travel around the country provide you with a unique chance to have some rest and get access to the eternal treasures of the Holy Land all at a time. Shopping. Tel Aviv is a unique combination of the western diversity and eastern traditions markets are still the integral part of the city, so are its excellent entertainment centres. Who would ever think that sometimes a costly purchase from a designer store can be bought several times cheaper at the market nearby. From dusk till dusk life in Tel Aviv is in full swing. There is no other city that could help you get such a good understanding of what the ancient and modern Israel is.

bb72.com/localities/israel/tel-aviv/city.html

Caravan Holidays UK

With the huge choice of caravan parks located around the UK, a caravan holiday is an ideal place to start for family holidays.

A caravan holiday in the UK is a great way to enjoy fun filled days at the beach, taking in strolls across the sand, the kids can enjoy splashing around in the sea and enjoy traditional fish and chips on walks down the promenades.

Take a visit the many amusement arcades which can keep the kids entertained for hours, and could leave your pocket lighter than before you went in. Not forgetting the ice-cream and doughnuts which makes the perfect UK holiday.Facilities at caravan parks cater for all age groups, from children’s and teen clubs to lively evening entertainment as well as many other activities to keep your day busy whilst on your UK holiday.

To make sure the right UK holiday destination is picked, where all the local sights and beaches are easily accessible from the caravan holiday park, Kiln Park near Tenby is at the heart of the Pembrokeshire National Park and second to none for Welsh hospitality and is easily accessible to the huge stretch of sandy beach and town centre making an ideal choice for UK holidays for the whole family to enjoy.

Visit a Haven Holiday park where you can take your family holiday, the parks are perfect for children and families to enjoy. A Haven Holiday park is a good choice for UK holidays and short breaks.

www.havenholidays.com

Review Of Amsterdam City Breaks

There are various things you can do in Amsterdam to fully appreciate the culture and history of the city. Amsterdam is consistently voted as one of the most prettiest cities in Europe combine that with its' rich history makes for a perfect city break.

There are lots of things that you should remember on your Amsterdam City break. First, remember that you are going to be traveling in one of the most beautiful areas in all of Europe. The quaint, small streets and people on bicycles add to the beauty that you can find while you are in Amsterdam. This is something that you will be able to remember for the rest of your life, so be sure that you are enjoying each moment.

Something else that you want to do while you are in Amsterdam is to take in some of the history. Here is where you can see Anne Frank's House, which is a museum of major historical importance. Definately spend an afternoon at this location.

Another thing that you want to do is take a boat tour through the canal. During this time you will learn a lot about Amsterdam and the history that surrounds this place. You can usually hop on and off of these tours, and this will allow you to have time at each of the places where you wish to stop and look.

Amsterdam is famed for the small coffee shops and bars that you can visit. These are the places where you will be able to be exposed to the most culture while you are in Amsterdam. You can take your time while you are at these places, and really be able to find out what life in Amsterdam is really like.

Another thing that you will want to be sure to do on your Amsterdam city break is to take an afternoon and rent bicycles. You will be able to then ride around the city and explore. This is one of the best things that you can do because it will give you a chance to explore the city on your own terms. Just be sure that you take a map, because Amsterdam can be very confusing if you don't know where you are going.

Remember that while you are in Amsterdam you want to be sure that you are taking advantage of the friendly people and glorious views. Both of these things can be found simply by taking an afternoon to explore.

www.directline-citybreaks.co.uk/Amsterdam

10 Sights To See Before You Die

Below is a list compiling 10 of the best sights and destinations that one must see before they die. Do you agree ?

For some people, the most incredible sight in the world might be the city of Petra, Jordan, which is an ancient city carved out of rock swirled red and blue. For others, this man-made legend pales beside the fierce power of the Niagara Falls, and there is nothing, really, to compare with the breathtaking view from the top of Mount Everest. Nonetheless, here are some of our favorites.

The Great Pyramids of Egypt

One of the eight wonders of the world, and an incredible sight to behold, the pyramids certainly make our top 10 list.

The Coliseum in Rome

Another incredible sight from the ancient world, brining home the power and might of ancient Rome.

London, England

An incredible city with immense amounts of history attached to it. Yes, we know that there are plenty of other cities in the world with a lot of history, but this is one of our favorites. There is a lot of incredible history, beautiful art, easy transportation, good food, theater, and so much more to do that you will never, never get bored.

For many of the same reasons and more reasons unique to each of them, you might also wish to visit New York City, which was the point at which most immigrants to the United States arrived. Specifically, check out Ellis Island if you have family in the U.S.

Paris, France is another city worth seeing if you love exploring incredible cities, with strolls along the Seine, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, of course.

Fiji

A popular location for honeymoons & holidays, an incredible place to visit, but don't wait for your honeymoon to check it out. With beaches, coral reefs, rain forests and more, there is a lot to see and a lot to enjoy. Many travel agents now offer packages to Fiji , so getting there s becoming increasingly easier.

Taj Mahal, India

An incredible architectural wonder of our more modern world, and one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. A building of full of love and romanticism.

Your tastes might vary, and heaven knows that each list of "10 places" is different; however we hope that this list is helpful in planning your future adventures.

www.directline-holidays.co.uk

Wessex Heritage Sites and Beach Countryside

Three Day TourThe three day tour covers a region in the south of England that used to be called Wessex. Wessex is often referred to as the birthplace of England because it was the kingdom of the West Saxons who were the dominant power in the 10th century before the Norman conquest. By overcoming their rivals from other regions the West Saxons created the single Kingdom which later became England. But as far back as Neolithic times the region has always been exceptionally rich in culture and human activity. As well as history, Wessex is also rich in mythology, being the land of King Arthur and the legend of the Holy Grail being taken to Glastonbury. There is no modern county or political region called Wessex and nowadays the word is only used in its historic sense or as an unofficial designation of geographical area, useful in tourist guides etc. The region includes no less than four World Heritage sites and the following tour plan suggests a novel way of enjoying them all in the space of just three days. It assumes that the tourist is based in London or nearby and needs to return there within four days. If you have longer or your base is further away, it is easy to extend the tour to suit.The City of BathStart off the tour by traveling west from London to Bath. This is a distance of around 90 miles and takes between 100 minutes and two hours, depending on traffic conditions. Your first night’s stay will be in Bath and you will find that there are many very good hotels in the city that you can book online.Bath has been designated a world heritage site since 1987. There is so much to see and do in Bath that you can easily justify spending there. If however, you intend keeping to the three day schedule suggested in this article, you have only one day in Bath and you will need to prioritise which of the sights are most important to spend time on. Whatever else you cut short on however, be sure to allow plenty of time to visit the Roman Baths. The Stone Circles of AveburyLeave Bath early in the morning and travel east for a distance of around fifty miles to Avebury, the second of our World Heritage sites. It is an attractive village that has a Saxon church, an Elizabethan manor house, a medieval thatched barn and an excellent village pub. Although the village itself is well worth spending time exploring, the real attraction of Avebury is its position as the centre of a well preserved megalithic site. This consists of several stone circles, a great ditch and an external earth mound. These circles are formed by around a hundred great boulders, weighing as much as 40 tonnes. If you allow two to three hours in Avebury, you can enjoy lunch in the village pub before leavingThe World Heritage site of StonehengeAllow 30 minutes for your journey from Avebury to Stonehenge, which has been a World Heritage site since 1986. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. People have come here to marvel at this incredible feat of engineering for the best part of five thousand years. Despite the many theories that exist, the precise purpose of Stonehenge remains a mystery. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon here, soaking up the mystical atmosphere and listening to the informative audio tour guide issued with the visit, before setting off on the final leg of your journey.The Jurassic Coast World Heritage SiteMy suggestion is that you head for the small town of Corfe Castle and pre-book your overnight accommodation at one of its excellent hotels or guest houses. The journey from Stonehenge should take you around 100 minutes. Corfe Castle is a few miles inland from the Dorset coast but is a very attractive village that is dominated by the ruins of an eerie medieval castle. Alternatively, you could head straight for the village of Studland which is right on the coast and stay there overnight instead.Either way, I have selected Studland as your final destination because it offers the choice of spending a relaxing day on Studland beach, one of Europe’s finest, or hiking along the coastal path over some of Dorset’s most beautiful scenery. The entire Dorset – Devon coast was declared a World Heritage site in 2001 because it provides a continuous sequence of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous rock formations spanning the Mesozoic era, documenting approximately 185 million years of Earth history. This has earned it the title; The Jurassic Coast. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful coastal areas in the whole of Britain.After a day spent hiking or relaxing on the beach - which has large naturist section if you want to get an all over tan - your journey back to London will take about two hours by following the A31, M27 and M3 into the capital.Further information about Wessex, its World Heritage sites and the specific places referred to in this travel tip article can easily found on good travel web sites. My own website, best-travel-tip.com is always interested in collecting and building travel information aimed at providing holiday makers with tips for getting the most out of vacations all over the world.
www.best-travel-tip.com

Cruise on Halong Bay, Vietnam

At 11.30 am, the sun is high in the sky and burning bright. At the pier countless wooden junks, sailboats, speedboats and tiny bamboo boats bob around. While tour guides try to organise how to get their groups on board, we sit with our bags in hand, ready to test out our sea legs.

“Which one is ours?” says a fellow traveler on my tour a tad impatiently.

After a four-hour-stint in the van from Hanoi, everybody is understandably itching to kick back and feel the sea breeze on board.

Just then a speedboat arrives with a flourish and we pile on board before zooming off to the Indochina Sail, a large, handsome junk that the captain proudly announces is 40 metres long and 8.5 meters wide – and indeed it seems a fine, seaworthy vessel to me.

In my time I’ve been on board a few of the bay’s shabbier junks. It is one point worth making: when it comes to visiting Halong Bay it’s worth treating yourself. Thankfully there’s more than a few classy junks to choose from these days.

Walking around on board the Indochina Sail, I discover a restaurant, the Indochina Sail Bar, a gift shop and even a library. Guests can also avail of binoculars, snorkeling equipment or top-of-the-line Canadian made kayaks.

With a grand view ahead, I tentatively start with the binoculars. Most of my fellow travellers are content to flop around the deck, sipping drinks, surveying the scene or catching a bit of sun. A trip to Halong is first and foremost about relaxing!

Sun-shy, I stretch out on a lie-low on the more shaded lower deck and listen to the buffeting breeze and the sound of the boat chopping through the waves. Time passes and I happily doze a little in the salty air.

However, a call for lunch stirs me right out of my light slumber. A five-course lunch is devoured by the hungry guests. We hadn’t even worked up an appetite.

Afterwards, I fight the urge to have a siesta and head out onto the deck as the boat floats into Bai Tu Long Bay. We drop anchor at Soi Sim island, famed for its rose myrtle brush.

The island sits in clear, blue waters and is also home to white sandy beaches. A member of the crew asks if anyone wants to swim but we’re already in our trunks and bathing suits ready to dive in. Afterwards, we head ashore and climb to the summit of the island which offers yet another idyllic setting. Although Halong is a large area with over 1,900 limestone islets and a 120-km coastline, when you get in amongst the islets it seems more intimate than grand.

The random scattering of islets meant the bay had its defensive advantages in the past. On three occasions in the labyrinth of channels near the islands the Vietnamese army stopped the Chinese from landing. Also in 1288 General Tran Hung Dao stopped Mongol ships from sailing up the nearby Bach Dang River by placing steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, sinking the Mongol Kublai Khan’s fleet. Of course, the legend is that a slew of dragons spat out jewels and jade into the sea. These jewels turned into the islands and islets that are dotted around the bay, which could be linked together to form barriers against would-be invaders.

It’s easy to see why residents of Halong would have conjured up such legends to explain the supreme scenery. Understandably, after our mini-hike a thirst is upon the travelling party! We clamber back on board for a few sundowners with beers and cocktails all round. The sun drops behind the surrounding islands as we sit in the dwindling twilight.

Heading back to my cabin to shower and change for dinner, I’m fairly surprised to discover a royal costume laid out for me. A card reads: “For tonight’s Royal banquet.”

Slightly tipsy, I happily oblige. It’s only when I arrive up on deck for the BBQ dinner I realise that the costume is a rather baggy and my hat fairly cumbersome, still I manage to move around and fill my plate. A Japanese tourist, Megumi Katsu is more taken by her new look – “This is the most fun I have had on my holidays yet!” At night in the bay is magical. A canopy of glittering stars above us, a refreshing coolness in the air – it is pure bliss just to sit around with the other travelers, your friends or partner. Conversation is optional.

Chris Wedlake and his wife, both looking positively regal, are on their honeymoon. “It’s an earthly paradise for a couple of newly weds!” So smitten with Halong, he and his wife says they’d come back for their anniversary every year if they could.

Traditional Vietnamese melodies hang in the air. The boat gently rocks. A few of the staff invite guests to fish for cuttlefish. But my eyes are heavy and I slip away to my cabin promising myself I’ll rise with the dawn – someone mentions morning tai chi exercises on the top deck and I nod in enthusiastic agreement.

But when I wake the sun is already up. I hear the voices of vendors who have rowed up to our junk to sell snacks, seafood, souvenirs and cigarettes. I stumble upstairs and discover guests still there from the night before – each one chose to sleep on deck in the open air rather than spending the night in their cabin.

A smell of fresh coffee is in the air as the boat pulls away; the crew informs us of our itinerary for the morning, but all of the passengers just reply with sleepy smiles. We are already under Halong Bay’s spell. No one really minds where we go next, anyway, you can’t take a wrong turn while cruising in Halong Bay.

www.indochinasails.com

Discovering Paphos

Cyprus itself is found in the Mediterranean Sea. It's an island divided, with the northern portion not being officially recognised by the United Nations.

It's for this reason that the largest resorts, including Paphos, are to be found in the south. Cyprus itself has close political ties with Europe, being a member nation of the European Union.

This means that visitors can use Euros, a currency that is shared with many other countries in western Europe, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom.

Links are particularly close with Greece and the Greeks have been leaving their mark here since ancient times. Looking at a map, you'll see that, in terms of location, Cyprus is nearer to the Middle East than it is to many European nations.

As a result of its history and geography, the island offers a diverse range of experiences. This, together with its extremely mild climate, is behind the reason for so many people choosing to visit Cyprus each year.

It's particularly busy during the summer months, when temperatures often rise to more than 30 degrees celsius. During such times, many visitors seek the nearest beach or swimming pool.

Paphos has built its reputation on allowing people to have a relaxing time. It offers beach resorts, with a number of quality hotels that aim to suit all budgets.

In the evenings, the town comes alive. The bustling bars and restaurants mean that you can spend every evening in a different venue and make the most of your stay.

If you get the opportunity you can also venture further inland. You'll soon find that Paphos makes a great base for exploring the local region.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

A Review of Paphos

Such thoughts are important when we look at the town of Paphos. Located in western Cyprus, this was once the capital of the island. As such, it is able to boast a rich cultural heritage.

Today, times have changed. The capital city is now Nicosia, in the centre of the island, with Paphos taking on the role of one of the most popular tourist resorts.

It's probably fair to say that more people visit for the beaches, hotels and nightlife than choose to visit for the culture.

Even here, it's hard to keep focus on what everyone looks for in a beach holiday. Some seek a relaxing fortnight, enjoying reading and listening to music. Others look for a more active stay, maybe aiming to play some sports and get out for some diving.

For others Cyprus is very much about the nightlife. Days are for sleeping and nights are for enjoying.

So where exactly does Paphos fit in? I found that it was perfect if you're looking for a beach holiday that can include a little bit extra.

You can relax here and enjoy your nights out, sampling some excellent restaurants and bars. The nightlife can be more lively, but doesn't approach that of Ayia Napa.

If you get bored of the beach then make sure that you set aside some time for exploring. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so there's plenty on offer.

Driving inland you'll find that you also get a better idea of how the locals live.

Overall, I think it's fair to say that Paphos offers a little for everyone.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

Naxos Best travel tip for Greek Island Beach vacations

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades – the group of islands in the center of the Aegean. The island is eighteen miles in length and 12 miles wide and is oval in shape. It is also the most fertile, and this makes it one of the most beautiful. But it is the miles of unbroken golden sandy beaches that attracts the majority of the thousands of summer tourists that flock to Naxos every year.For the holidaymakers who can drag themselves away from the glorious beaches, Naxos provides a wealth of ancient Greek remains as well as plenty of Byzantine and Venetian history. The island’s capital, also called Naxos, has a Venetian fortress as well as an ancient Greek temple to Apollo.This temple is usually the first thing that a tourist sees when visiting Naxos by ferry because it stands proudly on the tip of the island, marking the way into the busy ferry port. The temple dates back to 522 BC but its ruinous appearance is not because much of it has been lost to the passage of time, but rather because the ancients never finished building it.Naxos town is very picturesque port with a maze of whitewashed streets and alleyways, designed with the frequent invasions from Aegean pirates in mind. Its typically Cycladic architecture blends with the Venetian and every turning invites the visitor to explore.With such romantic charm and mystique, it is little wonder that Naxos has long been popular with writers and artists. Lord Byron visited in his youth and never forgot the experience, referring to it in his writings as the ‘Dream Island’ and often saying that he would love to return some day.Naxos has 41 villages and most are worth exploring. They are found in the green fertile, valleys that are sandwiched between the rugged, arid mountains. Many of these are over 2000 feet high and the highest, Mount Zeus is 3,200 feet.Naxos enjoys the economic rewards of being a tourist island but it does not depend on them for its prosperity. A great deal of farming takes place in its rich valleys and the cultivation of lemons is especially successful. In addition to lemons, Naxos produces cherries, pomegranates and other fresh fruit. It also produces olives, nuts and potatoes whilst its grapes make some of the best of Greek wines.Travel tip for getting to NaxosNaxos is deservedly popular with discerning tourists but unlike nearby Mykonos, it is not in danger of being turned into a mass tourism resort. What has saved it from doing so is its lack of an international airport. There is however an excellent airport providing domestic flights and some tourists, mainly Greek holidaymakers, arrive in Naxos this way, flying from Athens. The majority of tourists arrive by ferry however, and there is no better way to start a Greek island holiday than this. You can sail all the way from Athens but it will take at least six hours. Or you can fly to Mykonos and get on a ferry that takes only two hours. Both options have their pros and cons. We flew to Mykonos one year only to find all the ferries were booked. Another travel tip, whichever route you choose, is to be careful that you get off at the right island. The first time we visited Naxos, we misheard a landing announcement and got off the ferry only to see a sign that read ‘Welcome to Paros’. Luckily, we had enough time to re-board and complete the remaining minutes of the journey to neighboring Naxos.Visit the best-travel-tip.com website for more travel tips and articles about Greece and other holiday destinations
www.best-travel-tip.com

Busiest Airports In The World

The busiest airport in world is determined by the type of airport and the basis of operations e.g defence airports , commercial airports or cargo airports etc.

The busiest "airport" in the world in terms of passenger traffic is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the USA.

The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport is the hub for both Delta Air Lines and AirTran. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has the most take offs as well, and while many of these are domestic American flights, there are also several international flights as well. It is rising fast as one of the major gateways in and out of the country.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport also has more nonstop flights than anyone else but since it is the busiest airport in the world that is not surprising. There are over 243 nonstop flights, 72 international, and it caters to 45 countries. Also Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the few airports that can handle simultaneous landings. Over 84 million passengers and 976,000 flights go through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Many of these passengers do not stay in Atlanta but head onto other destinations.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport also has the most operations of Boeing 767 aircrafts with over 104. Teh airport also boasts the 2nd highest number of McDonnell Douglas MD-80. There are more than 55,000 airline employees, including ground transportation, concessionaire, security, federal government, City of Atlanta and Airport tenant employees. The salary and economic effect of the airport are in the billions and continues to rise.

There are other airports out there with impressive numbers and since we know the busiest maybe we should know that O'Hare International Airport is next on the lineup with over 77.000,000 passengers, then there is the Heathrow Airport in London with over 67,000,000, followed by Haneda Airport in Tokyo and there impressive 65,000,000. The list goes on to over 30 different airports that are counted in places all over the world with the numbers as high as the 84,000,000 passengers that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has catered too, to the Munich Airport with 30,757,978. Choosing the right airport is not only about location but also about how much of a crowd you are willing to face.

www.directline-holidays.co.uk

Guide To Rome Airport

Rome Airport, full name Rome Leonardo Da Vinci Fuimicino Airport , is reputed to be the second largest European gateway. It claims to service a total of 30+ million people annually and is rising year on year. The airport first opened in 1961 with 2 runways and replaced the old Ciampino airpot.

Alitalia Airlines that operates out of Rome invested heavily into the installation of a third runway to handle the increased airline traffic at the airport. Da Vinci airport is approximately 21 miles from the city of Rome by car and as of October 2006 any patron who uses a taxi to and from the airport pay a fixed rate of 40 euros which is in U.S. Dollars is $58. That rate is pretty high because American cabs usually charge a fixed rate depending on the area serviced and it's most often half that amount for a single trip.

Travelers have the option, if they want to save money on cabs and driving, to use thei train system and taking a 30-minute ride to Rome and disembark in downtown Rome at Termini Station. Da Vinci Airport has had only five documented incidents in December 1973, December 1985, April 1986, October 1988, and September 2005 out the airport's entire 47 and a half years in operation.

Rome Airport has four main terminals. In total, Rome International Airport has 122 air carriers with at the time of writing a possible two new airlines being added to the service roster. Da Vinci Airport has more air carriers than Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles the 3 busiest airports in the United States combined. Rome Airport offers travellers a wealth of shopping experiences, with a choice of over 140 outlets throughout the airport offering a varying range of products (designer clothing , perfumes , jewellry, food).

Most offer vast discounts for things that would be expensive to purchase back in the United States since items brought from overseas is taxed up to as much as $500. This is why many Americans who travel through Da Vinci Airport request that things they purchase through the duty free stores to ship them to their house so they can bypass the security check due to restrictions on the quantity of specific items like liquor and perfume because of the current regulations of people flying with liquids in their luggage which was applied to aviation policy after 9/11.

www.directline-flights.co.uk

Queenstown New Zealand

There is no question that Queenstown attracts visitors because of its natural beauty and also because of the myriad of adventure activities.

Picturesque Queenstown is situated in the south island. There are many places to stay that suit all kinds of wallets. Queenstown has international luxury hotels, hostels with dorm beds in the town or in the countryside.

For the financially challenged there are also plenty of camping grounds throughout the country. Most are a very reasonable cost and are used by touring groups for overnight or short and long stays.

There are plenty of accommodation websites that feature their specialty. Some are located on lakes others overlook the magnificent valleys, mountains and lakes.

Queenstown New Zealand is also famous for its world class ski fields and golf courses, not to mention fishing. Many of the lakes and rivers have trout and are perfect for fly-fishing. The rivers are perfect for white water rafting, jet boating and more.

There are 290 hostels in Queenstown and around New Zealand and many of these include Budget Backpacker accommodation. The best we recommend for backpackers is Hippo Lodge located in the heart of Queenstown, only a few minutes from the town centre and with spectacular views.

www.backpackerreviews.co.nz

Austria as a holiday destination

Austria in general

Austria is a totally land-locked country, that shares its border with eight other countries. These are; the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech republic, Slovak republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland. The nation is made up of nine provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vienna, Vorarlberg and Upper Austria. The official language is German and the vast majority of its 8 million inhabitants are Germanic.

Austria is an Alpine country with mountainous terrain covering its western and southern area. This creates a spectacular landscape of verdant green valleys, beautiful lakes and fairy-tale forests. There are also numerous, fast-flowing rivers, including Europe’s biggest; the Danube.

Holidaying in AustriaAustria has much more to offer tourists than its dramatically beautiful scenery.

Its cities offer culture, history, magnificent architecture plus entertainment and a vibrant night life.

Vienna is the capital and little more than a century ago it was the imperial seat of government for the mighty Austro-Hungarian empire. It is famous for both its musical tradition and stunning architecture.

Then there is Salzburg, the birth place of Mozart and the location of Europe’s largest and best preserved fortress, the Hohensalzburg. Below this mighty castle, Salzburg’s baroque OldTown is a delight to explore at any time.

Everywhere you go in Austria you are reminded of why the nation is renowned for its rich cultural inheritance. For the real culture buffs, concerts, operas and museums are always beckoning and demanding attention.

Despite the many other things that this relatively small country has to offer the tourist, the majority of holidaymakers are attracted to it by the mountains. Whether it’s a summer holiday relaxing by the side of one of the many lakes, a hiking holiday in the spring time, or a winter sports holiday, the Alpine regions are where most people head for.

Austria’s climate is favourable to outdoor activities although it can be quite changeable. Summers are generally warm and pleasant but fairly heavy rain showers are common. Austria's winters usually provide dependable snowfalls but in recent years some ski resorts have suffered at the beginning and towards the end of their season. Winter sunshine levels are usually good making a day on the ski slopes attractive scenically as well as being an exhilarating experience. Austria really is a country that offers something for everyone. Use our Best Travel Tip articles to help you to decide which of the many activities and sights are your personal priorities.

www.best-travel-tip.com

Thailand Tips and Customs

Thailand Tips and Customs (for further information go to Asia Travel Pages). After living in Bangkok for over a year I have learned many things about the Thai People that I wanted to share with other foreigners living or vacationing here should know. The first thing you have to accept is that eastern culture is different. The people in the east are less emotional and more polite and while they know westerners are different, they often are uncomfortable when we stray from their norms. The things I found to be important are listed below in order of importance:

1. Be Polite - Thai people hold being polite above all else. Their very language has politeness built into it. If you follow what is considered “common courtesy” you will be fine.
2. Thai King - The Thai People Love their King, King Rama IX. Never show any type of disrespect to him. The Thai people have a deep traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and the visitor should also show respect for the King and the Queen, and the Royal Children. When attending a public event where a member of the Royal Family is present, the best guide on how to behave is to watch the crowd and do as it does.
3. Safety - Stealth crimes, such as pick pocketing, are the most common problem so it's worth keeping a close eye on your belongings at all times and being aware of the people around you. Unprovoked violence against tourists are very rare, but it pays to exercise common sense.
4. National Religion - Buddhism is Thailand’s national Religion with nearly 95% of Thailand's population being Buddhist. All Buddha images are considered sacred and there are laws against removing these images for anything other that personal worship.
5. Buddhist Monks - It is forbidden for women to touch Buddhist Monks, this includes a woman handing something to a Monk, The items should be first given to a man, who hands the item to the monk.
6. Buddhist Temple - Wearing shoes around a temple is acceptable but they should be removed when entering their church (the area where the Buddha image is kept).
7. Be Quiet - Loud people are considered impolite. Speak softly and do not laugh loudly. Of course there are the common places such as bars that being loud is appropriate.
8. Food - Food in Thailand is customarily HOT, spicy HOT. For the westerner visiting foriegner, the best tip i can give them is how to ask to make the food less spicy. There are two phrases to be used based on you preference: 1) "mai ped" - not spicy and 2) "ped nit noi" - a little bit spicy. But the food is awesome in Thailand, this tip should help you enjoy it even more.
9. Body Odor - Thai people almost never smell badly and they find it offensive if others do.
10. Crowds - if you go to areas in Thailand during Thai holiday's and celebrations, be prepared to encounter many people. To Western experience the volume of these areas can be incredible. Be prepared to be pushed and shoved and be aware that they mean no harm. Thai people
11. Watch where you walk - The side walks in Bangkok are uneven and full of obstacles, pay attention. Oh, also, the streets have many stray dogs; the dogs are not aggressive but do leave landmines on the sidewalks.
12. Taxi drivers (enough said) - Most taxi drivers are fine. Generally, it is always better to use the metered taxis. Tuktuks are always more expensive and with Bangkok traffic you could be breathing in a lot of smog on the way. If you are going a significant distance negotiate… Also, the Taxis marked “We love farang, we speak English”, well most of them do not. They do have a radio that has a person that knows a little English.
13. Movie Theater - After the advertizing and right before the movie a tribute to the Thai King Comes on and everyone stands in respect.
14. Driving in Thailand - If you are a brave one and decide that you want drive yourself around Thailand, don't be too worried, it really isn't that bad. There are just several things to understand. Drivers use the left side instead of the right, like in the US, and the roads tend to be narrower than in the US. So driving next to a bus or a truck can be a little intimidating.

Following these tips will allow you to have better understanding of the Thai people and more fun in your stay in Bangkok, allowing the locals to be more comfortable with you and give you a better understanding of how things function in Thailand. Please visit our Website for more ideas for traveling in Thailand.

www.asiaproductsllc.com

Travel tip to avoid a Family Holiday Nightmare

The family had enjoyed a few days of a beach resort holiday in Thailand when the husband suggested that they go off on a jungle experience, organized by one of the trekking and adventure tour operators. His wife was not enthusiastic but decided to go along with the proposal because she knew that this was something her husband had always wanted to do. Their seven year old son sounded as keen as his dad and their five year old daughter seemed happy enough with the idea too. The other family member was a two-year-old boy.They booked up with a reliable tour guide and set off three days later, The seven year old had become even more enthusiastic and promised his mum that he would deal with all the nasty snakes and spiders for her.After a grueling seven hour drive, during which time all three kids had been travel sick on several occasions, the family finally arrived at their destination, a lodge in the jungle.They were greeted by a number of snarling dogs who looked as though they desperately needed a good meal of European children to fatten them up. Mum was immediately panic stricken but Dad and the tour guide reassured her that they were in no danger and the family continued safely towards on to the lodge.This building was a large, wooden hut on high stilts with a straw roof. Immediately below it, there was a small lake that looked as if it should provide a perfect home for crocodiles. Inside the lodge, accommodation was about as basic as it can get.Dad was more than happy with everything however and informed the rest of the family that anything more grand would have spoilt the back-to-nature experience. Mum was not amused.Luckily, only one overin the lodge was involved. As night fell, the crescendo of jungle sounds increased. Mum laid awake becoming more and more worried about the children who were in the next room. Very soon the jungle noises were accompanied by the sound of the children crying. Dad got up to fetch them, returning with three very frightened children who spent the rest of the night in their parents room. It was just as well, because within an hour a new sound was keeping everyone from going to sleep. Mum and the children listened in horror to repeated loud bangs on the roof-beams accompanied by ear splitting screeches. Dad explained that the source of this noise held no threat for them. It was only monkeys, he informed them but his explanation did little to reassure the rest of the family.There was little sleep for anyone that night except the two-year-old, who slept fairly soundly after the move to mum and dad's room. Mum found it hard to believe that she slept at all and was relieved when the sun finally rose and shone its light into the room. She untangled herself from under the mosquito net and looked around the room that had seemed so menacing in the dark. But her relief was short lived and her scream awoke the rest of the family. There in the middle of the floor, only a few yards from where she had been sleeping, was a large, tropical spider. It wasn't quite the last ordeal she would face before they left the lodge. Waiting for her in the bathroom were two gigantic tree frogs.The long journey back to civilization was uneventful apart from further episodes of travel sickness. Mum refused to talk to her husband for the entire length of the journey. Back at the beach resort, the relationship improved a little over the remaining few days of the holiday but not enough for Dad to ever forget the best travel tip he had learned for a very long time: don't take your family on a wilderness excursion unless they are genuinely as enthusiastic about going on one as you are.
www.best-travel-tip.com

A trip to Paphos

A visit to Cyprus differs considerably from many other beach holidays that I have taken. This much becomes clear within a couple of hours of setting foot on Cypriot soil. Though I had been aware of some of the recent history of this divided island, it's the presence of ancient history that is so stunning.

The town of Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage site, having attained such status largely thanks to the ancient ruins that are dotted around the town and the surrounding areas.

Once the Roman capital of this province, many have left their mark on the town including, almost inevitably, the Greeks.

The holiday brochures tend to show pictures of modern tourist facilities. I guess that's because many of us are looking for a relaxing place to stay.

We want to be within walking distance of the beach and to be able to relax by the swimming pool, should we choose to.

Simply being able to forget about work and enjoying the improved climate are the main aims for many of us. Those were suddenly major reasons for my choosing to come to Paphos and stay in one of its impressive hotels.

On arrival, being surrounded by so much history, I couldn't help but feel that I was ill prepared. I wish this had been made much clearer in the brochure.

I find myself cursing that I had not spent more time preparing for the trip. I'd assumed that my visit to Cyprus would be yet another beach holiday.

Now that I'd got here, it was clear that Paphos had much, much more to offer. This was a place where I could enjoy the modern facilities and yet find glorious cultural experiences.

There is no doubt that this is a place worth visiting for a beach holiday, but make sure that you allow extra time to discover the charms of Paphos.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

Make a splash in Paphos

If you're not familiar with Cyprus then you may be surprised to hear that it's the second largest island in the Mediterranean. With more than 2 million visitors from overseas each year, it's become established as one of the leading tourism locations in Europe.

For many, much of what they hear about the island is based on the popular resort of Ayia Napa.

Located at the eastern end of Cyprus, Ayia Napa was once a small fishing village. Today, it's grown into a major attraction, with many people drawn particularly to its nightlife.

It's helping the island to challenge its Spanish rival of Ibiza, though the publicity is not always positive.

At the western end of Cyprus, Paphos could hardly be more different from Ayia Napa if it tried. During the days of the Roman Empire, Paphos was the capital of the whole island.

Today, it has lost that title to Nicosia, but it still manages to retain much of the splendour of ancient times. The town has a long cultural heritage. Indeed, it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

If you're interested in sports and water sports in particular then there is plenty to recommend about a visit to Paphos.

As with much of Cyprus, the resort can offer an extremely pleasant climate, ensuring that you can hit the water on most days between May and September.

The facilities are excellent, with training schools available to help enthusiasts of all abilities.

After a hard day of having fun, you can make the most of the local bars and restaurants to relax. Check out a trip to Paphos if you like to make a splash.

You won't be disappointed by this vibrant holiday resort.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

Find summer sun in Paphos

It's clear that one of the main factors that brings people to Cyprus is the climate. While summer weather in the UK can be unreliable, the island of Cyprus benefits from an extremely mild climate, thanks in no small part to its location.

Located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, this European Union member finds itself very close to a number of countries that we would consider to be in the Middle East.

This proximity helps explain the weather that is enjoyed here. Summers tend to be long and dry, with warm weather often being seen between the months of May and September.

During the months of June, July and August it is not unusual to see temperatures hit 30 degrees celsius or more. In short, the weather is perfect if you're looking for a holiday where you can relax on the beach or by the pool.

The town of Paphos, at the western end of the island, was once the capital city. Though this tag has long since passed to Nicosia, it's easy to see signs of the town's previous status.

The area includes a number of well respected historic sites, although it's the modern hotels, bars and restaurants that attract many visitors.

With a number of good quality beaches, plus the offer of sporting facilities, Paphos is perfect for family holidays. The resort does, of course, get very popular at peak times.

If you're looking for some summer sunshine then Paphos offers some great opportunities. Finding the best value deals will often be reliant on your ability to remain flexible.

Try to allow for the fact that busy times of the year do see flight and accommodation prices rise. Bear in mind that the resort attracts so many people that prices are certain to be higher during the school summer holidays, for instance.

In short, Paphos is a wonderful place to spend a summer holiday. Many people return here year after year.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

Paphos Holiday Deals

Today, the resort brings together a mixture of modernity and ancient history. Tourists flock to the golden beaches and impressive new hotels, but also have the opportunity to explore the historic monuments.

Indeed, such is the importance of some of these sites that the town and is surrounding area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1980.

This combination of facilities and cultural attractions have helped to keep Paphos at the fore of tourism on the island. Thousands of visitors arrive here each year from all over Europe.

For those of us travelling from the United Kingdom, the easiest way to reach the town is usually to fly into Paphos International Airport, although some holiday companies do prefer to use the airport at Larnaca.

Finding the best deal is always important and this can be achieved most easily by those who are prepared to show flexibility and to carry out some research.

The internet has transformed the way that we look for holidays. We're now able to browse reviews and compare prices much more easily than we once could. If you want to save money then it's vital that you take advantage of online tools to help you do so.

You'll need to think about whether you wish to book a package trip, or perhaps look to plan a more independent approach.

A number of websites will allow you to book accommodation only, allowing you to seek cheap flight deals for yourself. It's important to compare prices to make sure that you get value of money.

Don't forget to consider the quality of the accommodation on offer, as well as the price that you will pay. It's perfectly possible to save up to 70% on a Paphos holiday by booking online and spotting the right deal.

Should you manage to do so, you can guarantee that you'll have a great time at one of the island's most popular resorts.

www.paphosdeals.co.uk

Travel Destination Ignorance

Madeira cake from France and Tenerife in Bulgaria

The other day, I was sitting at my favourite restaurant when I overheard a conversation that went something like this:

First Person: "I think I am going to have a slice of Madeira cake"

Her Friend: "That’s a good idea, I ll join you. Not that Ive got a clue why they call it Madeira cake, have you?"

First Person: "I think its named after some place in France."

I am not sure why that sort of ignorance about places makes me feel so frustrated. After all, why should everyone be as fascinated by travel and far away places as I am? Whatever the reason, I just could not help myself interrupting the two women as soon as they had ordered their cake to inform them that Madeira is a Portuguese island about four hundred miles off of the north African coast in the Atlantic ocean. I added that it makes a fabulous holiday destination but did bother to tell them that it is actually not one island but an archipelago and actually an autonomous region of Portugal.

Just as well – their expressions told me that I had already said more than they were interested in knowing.

This attitude of having little or no interest in travel destinations is actually very common and it is not confined to people who are generally under educated. Frequent examples can be seen on television quiz shows when contestants who are obviously well educated stumble on simple questions like; Which of the following is not a Caribbean island (A) Jamaica (B)Cuba (C) Majorca (D) Barbados

Even more incredible are the people you sometimes overhear in a travel agent, booking holidays to resorts without having any interest as their location as long as its warm and sunny with cheap booze available.

Travel destination ignorance is not just a British thing. An air stewardess once told me a story about an American couple visiting their parents country of origin, Bulgaria, one February. They had used a travel agent in New York to plan their journey and book the two flights that were involved. The first flight took them to London where they boarded the ongoing flight to complete their journey. When this flight landed at Reina Sofia airport the couple looked a little flustered and hesitated at the top of the flight steps, turning to the stewardess to ask why everywhere looked so sub tropical and sunny, and adding that their parents had always told them that Bulgaria was cold in February. At first, the stewardess was at a loss to think of anything that could possibly explain how someone trying to get to Bulgaria in Eastern Europe could end up on a flight to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Then she realized that the name of Bulgarias capital city is Sofia. She asked the couple whether they thought they had boarded a flight to Sofia, Bulgaria. The answer was yes and it turned out that their travel agent had probably just typed Sofia Flights into her computer and accepted the results that the query gave without questioning any further!

Best travel tips and holiday destination information

Travel destination ignorance rubs me up the wrong way because I am so passionate about travel and that is also the reason that I started up a website dedicated to providing travel tips, articles and information about holiday or vacation destinations worldwide. As well as wanting to help people to make the right decisions when planning their vacations, I hope the travel articles will fire peoples imaginations so that they can enjoy dreaming about places they have never been to, even if they never get around to visiting them.

www.best-travel-tip.com

Vacation Planning in Mexico

I am often in charge of family vacations for a number of reasons, primarily because I don’t trust anyone else’s coordinating skills. Remembering back to the time when my husband planned a camping retreat and our tent caught on fire, I decided to adopt the full time role of vacation director.

While I was not necessarily interested in wearing a whistle around my neck nor a bucket hat with cheesy pins attached, my role as vacation director was an outlet for creativity and ingenuity: my family a tough crowd to please and my own reputation at stake for further vacations.

I selected Mexico because it was a mysterious place to us; our imaginations running wild with the thought of bull fights, open air markets and white sand beaches. And while there weren’t too many destinations I knew well other than the nefarious Cozumel and Cancun, I was confident the shores of the Latin paradise would have something up its sleeve for us.

Our vacation in the end resulted in a smashing success. Everyone had the time of their lives and whether we knew it or not, our Spanish had improved dramatically. We bought traditional tamales, drank cold fruit sodas and got along tremendously well with locals who welcomed us into their homes with open arms.

Mexico is a magical place if you know where to go. We explored the less-popular places because that’s what we like, though if you are looking for widespread partying and tourism, the mainstream travel destinations might be your cup of tea.

The people and the culture are rich in tradition and we figured it no better place to explore the countryside where a warm, beautiful people awaited us. Who knows when we’ll go back next, but one thing’s for sure: this vacation planner definitely made the grade.

searchwarp.com/swa308262.htm

Holland Travel - Amsterdam, Van Gogh, Anne Frank

Yes, marijuana and prostitution is legal, but there is so much more to the country. Many look at Amsterdam as Holland, but visitors know there is much more. If you desire to travel to Holland, also known as the Netherlands, don't miss these attractions.AmsterdamSimply put, Amsterdam has something for everyone. The city is an incredibly beautiful collection of old world European architecture elegantly partitioned by canals. In truth, the city is built on roughly 90 small islands, although you can hardly tell. Transportation is best undertaken on foot or by bicycle. With a cool climate, you'll barely break a sweat. Contrary to popular opinion, Amsterdam is not just a city of liberal policies. Yes, coffee bars sell things other then just coffee. Yes, there are women in windows that are awfully friendly. Still, there is so much more to experience in the city. Van Gogh MuseumThe Rijksmuseum Vincent van Gogh houses the world's largest collection of the work of Vincent van Gogh. From his early work, the museum contains 700 artistic works and 850 letters. After moving to Paris in 1886, van Gogh entered an impressionist period, of which the museum contains a large collection. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the collection is the organization. The entire collection is arranged chronologically from the first to last work. As you walk, you can clearly see the evolution of this master's skill. Anne Frank HouseWho hasn't read the intense diary of Anne Frank? Hiding from the Nazis, she and her family lived in an annexed section of an apartment in Amsterdam for two years. In 1957, the house was donated to the Anne Frank Foundation and turned into a museum. A visit will send chills through your spine. The museum contains films, the annexed area and the original notes of Anne Frank. A must see for anyone traveling to Amsterdam. Beyond AmsterdamFor those needing a break from Amsterdam, there is much to be seen in Holland. If you are looking for a color explosion, consider taking the bulb cycling tour out of Noordwijk. Windmills your thing? Head to the De Zaan district to see them in action. Prefer to spend a night in a castle? Try the Castle Hotel Engelenburg, which even lets you ruin a good walk by playing golf. Travel to Holland and you won't regret it. Whether you want to "investigate" the countries liberal policies or simply bike through fields of tulips, Holland will satisfy.

www.tours-guide.com

From the treasury of art history of uzbekistan

The Art History Research Institute (AHRI) is the main and only academic research institution in the system of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan. It is a unique scientific centre that brings together experts in art history and architecture, fine and decorative-applied art, music, theatre and cinema. The Institute has ten sections representing all areas of art studies, as well as a unique archaeological collection, record library, photo laboratory, an archive and an academic library.

From the beginning of its establishment, the Institute employed scholars who eventually became known not only in Uzbekistan, but also in many countries of the world. They had been able to capture, comprehensively study and thus preserve the national art and cultural heritage of the country. Their work is now being referred to by art historians, art critics, collectors, museum workers, artists and masters of applied art. They are G. A. Pugachenkova, L. I. Rempel, I. R. Rajabov, R. H. Taktash, D. A. Fakhretrdinova, F. M. Karomatov, M. R. Rakhmanov, M. H. Kadyrov, T. S. Vyzgo, H. N. Abdulkasymova, J. T. Teshabaev, M. T. MirzaMukhamedova, E. V. Trveladze and many others.

Nowadays the Institute is the largest centre that trains art historians in the region. It offers a graduate course; there is a special council for defending dissertations for the degree of candidate, and in 1992 a doctoral council was instituted, and since 1993 it has become possible to pursue doctoral degree. Throughout all this time, and particularly during the last ten years, dissertations for doctoral and candidate degrees have been defended by applicants not only from Uzbekistan, but also from CIS and non-CIS countries.

The years of independence opened new opportunities for Uzbekistan's scientist for an in-depth study of the country's artistic culture, including previously "undesirable" and thus inadequately researched problems related to the history of religions and their influence on the development of artistic processes. For instance, specific attention is given to selected aspects of architecture and music of Islamic period. There emerged an opportunity to study cult architecture, which previously was regarded as a final product of architects' work, without studying genesis, evolution and close interconnections of some building types, associated, in one way or another, with Buddhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and, primarily, with Islam. For instance, a new impetus is given to the studies of honako architecture - Sufic abodes, the development of which was closely linked to the history and the transformations of the Sufi teaching itself - Ilmi at-Tasavvuf, as well as makoms, in terms of discovering their semantics in relation to the ritual Sufi practices.

Currently, scientists working at the Institute fill up these and many other lacunae in the studies of the national cultural heritage of the peoples of Uzbekistan. A number of monographs and articles were dedicated to revealing new facets of the country's art. These works include: "Ritual Music of Central Asia", 1994, by R. Abdullaev; "Farabi and Ibn Sino on the Theory of Musical Rhythm", 1995, by A. Nazarov; "Production in Uzbek Drama Theatre: Development Trends and Current Issues", 1995, by M. Tulykhojaeva; "The Two Swallows", 1996, by D. Musaeva; "Muslim Relics of Uzbekistan", 1995, by E. Rtveladze; and many others.

Two archaeological expeditions of the Institute carry out extensive research and publication activity. Starting as early as 1989, members of the Uzbekistan Art History Expedition (UAHE) productively cooperated in the field of science with the Japanese Soka University (Tokyo), participated in the annual joint expeditions to the Buddhist township of Dalverzintepa located in the south of Uzbekistan. The results of these studies were reflected in a major illustrated publication titled "Antiques of Southern Uzbekistan" prepared by the Institute staff together with Japanese scholars. This paper was published in Japan in 1991 in Russian, English and Japanese languages. The UAHE, led by candidate of historical sciences B. Turgunov, continued its cooperation with the aforementioned Japanese university, and archaeological excavations at Dalverzintepa resulted in the publication of new data in the series called "Materials of the Annual Uzbekistan Art History Expedition".

The museum collection of the Institute was exhibited not only in various exhibition halls of Tashkent, but also in the cities of Japan, (1988, 2005), Germany (1999) and France (1996); each exhibition was accompanied by the publication of colourful catalogues with scientific articles written by the Institute's scholars, namely E. Rtveladze, A. Khakimov, B. Turgunov, J. Ilyasov, etc. This can be exemplified by an exhibition catalogue "Greece-Uzbekistan: Ancient Cultural Links" (2001), and a colourful and richly illustrated catalogue of the recent exhibition "The Great Silk Road and Its Heritage" held in 2005 in four Japanese cities displaying materials of the Institute's archaeological collection. In 2006, the UAHE, together with the Soka University, carried out a joint expedition, and the results of the studies are currently being prepared for publication.

In 1999 another major archaeological expedition was founded - the Tokharistan expedition that focused its interest on studying an ancient township of Kampyrtepa in the south of Uzbekistan. The expedition leader, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan (ASU) E. Rtveladze, every year performs a series of excavations together with Russian archaeologists, specifically with those from the State Museum of Oriental Arts (Moscow) and the I. Bunin State University (Yelets), as well as with Japanese and French archaeologists. As of today, for the first time in archaeological practice in Central Asia, almost the entire area of the Kushan period township was excavated with subsequent conservation of exposed sections. Scientists have been able to make unique discoveries: specifically, to propose a hypothesis that the township corresponds to the known, according to Ptolemaic data, city of Oxian Alexandria founded in late 4th century B.C. by Alexander of Macedonia. In 2000 E. Rtveladze started a new series of publications - an annual title "Materials of Tokharistan Expedition: Archaeological Studies at Kampyrtepa"; the fifth and the sixth issues of the series will be published soon. Since 1996, following the initiative and under the editorship of E. Rtveladze, a collection of articles titled "Numismatics in Central Asia" is published almost annually. The seventh issue was published in 2005.

The Institute has established close cooperation with UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan. For instance, with financial support of this authoritative international organization and a Japanese Trust Fund, a complex Baisun scientific expedition started its operations in 2003 with an objective of studying folk culture of the area (the academic leadership of expedition is exercised by Doctor of Art History A. Khakimov; the expedition director is Doctor of Art History R. Abdullaev). The expedition participants, including the Institute staff members - E. Gyul, S. Alieva and I. Abdurakhmanov - also published the results of their research in an annual title "The Works of Baisun Scientific Expedition" (1st issue - 2003; 2nd - 2005, 3rd - 2006) covering relevant issues in contemporary musical folklore, applied art and other domains of traditional culture. Based on the results of the expedition studies, two monographs were published in 2006: "Baisun: The Atlas of Artistic Crafts" by A. Khakimov and E. Gyul, and "Baisun: Traditional Musical Culture" by R. Abdullaev (selected publications are available in English and Russian languages).

With UNESCO's financial support, a series of academic papers was published, among which the largest is an illustrated three-volume title "Oriental Miniatures" (2001, 2003, 2004) under the editorship of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan G. Pugachenkova, Academician of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan A. Khakimov and others, featuring miniatures (with brief annotation) from the collection of the A. Biruni Institute of Oriental Studies. In recent years, fundamental studies of the Institute's lead scholars have become basis for major collective monographs dedicated either to an anniversary of a prominent historical personality, or to a memorable date of founding one or another ancient city in Uzbekistan. For instance, in 1996, with the involvement of lead RI scholars, a collective monograph titled "Amir Temur in Global History" was published in Uzbek, Russian, English and French languages to mark the 550th anniversary of Amir Temur (authored by E. Rtveladze, A. Khakimov, P. Zakhidov, E. Ismailova, M. Kadyrov, T. Gafurbekov and others). In 2004 and 2006 the paper, with the same authorship, was republished.

Starting from 1997, following UNESCO decision and commissioned by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, anniversary publications were produced, the main authors of which were leading staff members of the Art History Institute. For instance, a series of anniversary publications includes the following collective monographs: "Bukhara, the Pearl of Orient" and "Khiva, the City of Thousand Domes" dedicated to the 2,500th anniversary of Bukhara and Khiva cities celebrated in 1997; "Light from the Depth of Centuries" to mark the 1,225th anniversary of Imam Al-Bukhari in 1998; "To the 800th Anniversary of Jaloliddin Manguberdi", 1999; "Termez" dedicated to the 2,700th anniversary of Termez city celebrated in 2000; "Shakhrisabz" to mark the 2,700th anniversary of Shakhrisabz in 2001; "Karshi: Glorious Past and Great Future" for the city's anniversary celebrated in 2006. It should be noted that in almost all aforementioned collective monographs published in three (Uzbek, English and Russian), four (plus French) or five (plus Arabic) languages the executive editor and the author of history sections was Academician E. Rtveladze, and the key sections were authored by lead AHRI scientists, Doctors of Science G. Pugachenkova, M. Yusupova, I. Azimov (architecture), E. Ismailova (miniature), A. Khakimov, K. Akilova, E. Gyul (applied art), M. Kadyrov (visual arts), T. Gafurbekov (music) and others.

Every year the AHRI hosts scientific conferences with the publication of abstracts or full presentations. Among the publications by the AHRI staff produced for the conferences one can mention the following titles: "The Art of Central Asia: Peculiarity of Historical Evolution" (1997); "Kamoliddin Bekhzad and Oriental Art" (2000); "Archaeology, History and Culture of Central Asia" (2000); "The Place of Kamoliddin Bekhzad in the History of Global Culture" (2005); "Karim Zaripov and the National Theatre" (2006); and "Art and Art History of Uzbekistan in Modern Times" (2006).

Materials of conferences organized by art historians of the Institute with the involvement of young scientists from related higher education institutes of the country were published in the two issues of "San'atshunoslik nihollari" in 1999 and 2000. Since 2003 the Institute has turned into a centre of young scientists and art historians of Uzbekistan. At the end of each year it now hosts annual academic conferences with the publication of materials produced with financial support from Kamolot Foundation. The papers include: "The Art of Uzbekistan: History and Modern Times" (2003); "The Art of Uzbekistan: Globalization and National Peculiarities" (2004); "The Art of Uzbekistan: Traditions and the Process of Transformation" (2005); and "Independent Development and Integration Process in the Modern-Day Art of Uzbekistan" (2006).

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Institute staff prepared a number of academic and popular scientific publications. In 2001, under academic editorship of A. Khakimov, a book titled "The Art of Uzbekistan" was published, covering the art of Uzbekistan between 1991 and 2001 (authors: Sh. Askarov, A. Khakimov, E. Gyul, K. Akilova, F. Karomatli, M. Khamidova, M. Tulyakhojaeva, D. Mullajonov, etc.), as well as an information publication on theatre studies called "Akhborotnoma-2001". In 2002 a collection of articles titled "Independence and the National Theatre" was published under the editorship of Doctor of Art History M. Kadyrov, which was dedicated to the studies of creative processes, problems and prospects of Uzbek theatre development during the period of independence.

In 1997, under the editorship of T. Gafurbekov, A. Khakimov and I. Mukhtarov, a collection of academic articles by lead Institute scholars titled "The Issues of Art Studies in Uzbekistan" was published, which set the beginning to the publications of this genre.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Institute (1999), a collection of articles authored by the Institute staff called "The Issues of Art Studies I" was published under the editorship of O. Ibrohimov and M. Yusupova, that for the first time included a rather valuable and extensive reference material on the history of the Institute with brief bibliographic reference and contact information for each staff member of the Institute. The series was resumed in 2005, when under the academic editorship of M. Yusupova and O. Ibrohimov the second and third editions of "The Issues of Art Studies" collection were published (2005, 2006).

In 2003 a collection of articles was published under the title "Art History of Uzbekistan", and in 2004 there was a publication of materials from a conference "Peculiarities of Traditions and Tolerance in the Art of Uzbekistan" (2005) - both under the editorship of A. Khakimov.

Worth mentioning here specifically, are the recent major popular scientific publications. For example, books by P. Zakhidov in Uzbek language with the development of Uzbek terminology in architecture: "Temur Davrining Memoriy Kakhqashoni" telling about architecture during the period of Temurids, where the author proposed some of his new hypotheses; and "Memor Olami", which is an excellent reference publication on Islamic architecture of Central Asia. A popular scientific book by E. Rtveladze titled "The Great Silk Road" (1999) invoked major response; it tells about history and culture of civilizations along the Silk Road and their interaction, featuring quite valuable reference annex in the second part of the book. There was also a publication of a personality series dedicated to the work of famous actors ("Khalima Nosirova" and "Nabi Rakhimov" by M. Khamidova) or artists ("Life and Art of Alisher Mirzo" by A. Egamberdiev, 1999).

A number of works were published dedicated to the history of theatre: "The History of Uzbek Theatre (18th-20th Centuries)" by M. Kodirov (2004); "The History of the Uzbek State Academic Drama Theatre Named after Khamza" (1914-1960, V.1) by M. Rakhmonov; "Alisher Navoi and The Art of Stage Performance" by M. Kodirov; "The National Theatre of Uzbekistan" (1960-2000, V.2) by M. Rakhmanov, M. Tulyakhojaeva and I. Mukhtarov (2004); "Uzbek Theatre: Historical Drama" by D. Rakhmatullaeva (2004); and "Ulmas Umarbekov and Theatre" by D. Rakhmatullaeva (2006).

The Institute approached the 10th anniversary of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan having made a significant academic contribution: in recent years the lead AHRI scientists began to publish their fundamental dissertation studies of many years in the form of monographs. These include: "Traditions of Uygur Professional Music" (2003) by A. Khashimov; "20th Century Paintings of Central Asia: Traditions, Originality, Dialogue (peculiarities of evolution and development) (2004) by N. Akhmedova - this paper, on the basis of renewed methodological approaches, explores key issues in the development of the art of painting in the Central Asian state in the 29th century; "Decorative and Applied Art of Uzbekistan in late 19th - early 21st centuries" (2004) by K. Akilova, where for the first time folk decorative-applied art is studied as an integral and multi-component phenomenon, and various aspects concerning the preservation of historical and cultural originality of traditional cultural heritage and the issues of its evolution between late 19th and early 21st centuries are addressed; "Dialogue of Cultures in the Art of Uzbekistan.

Antiquity and Middle Ages" (2005) by E. Gyul, which examines the specificity of historical development of artistic processes on the territory of Uzbekistan and identifies the role of external influences and contacts between sedentary and nomadic population reflected in the dynamics and characteristic features of cultural genesis; "Jeweller's Art of Northern Bactria (1st century B.C. - 4th century A.D.) (2005) by V. Lunyova - the paper studies jewellery items and their images on the pieces of applied art and coins dating to the Kushan period, it discusses manufacturing technology, chemical and mineral composition and functional purpose of the items; "Half a Century of Transformation of Uzbekistan's Architecture (late 19th - early 20th centuries) (2005) by M.

Yusupova - the monograph analyzes urban construction and architecture of the [so-called] European part in the six cities of Fergana Valley, discusses the synthesis between local and "imported" European types of construction, which serves as sources of contemporary architecture in Uzbekistan; "The Japanese: Who Are They?" (2006) by B. Turgunov covers the aspects of cooperation between Uzbek and Japanese researchers, as well as the author's impressions and information on traditions and contemporary trends in the life and culture of the Country of the Rising Sun; "Fergana-Tashkent Makoms" (2006) by O. Ibrokhimov - the paper talks about stop basis and the principles of creating forms in Fergana-Tashkent Makoms, as well as some aspects of their relation to Shashmakom cycle. The publications of the Institute are not limited to this substantial list.

A number of materials on annual conferences held in late 2006 at the Art History Research Institute, a collection of articles and some monographs that will be published to mark the 10th anniversary of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan have already been prepared.

www.sanat.orexca.com