Tag: "Brazil Holidays"

Top 8 Intimate Encounters This Valentine’s Day

We have put together our favourite heart related destinations to get you in the Valentine’s day mood. Let us know if you have found any other heart related places on your travels.

Have a heart to heart dancing on ice 

Snuggle up to your partner on the deck of one of our Antarctic cruises and spot heart shaped icebergs among the abundant wildlife in the region. Antarctica’s dramatic landscape plays host to hundreds of different species.  Watch dolphins frolic in the water and whales and seals feed on the schools of fish. Pack your snow boots and hold on tight to your loved one as you go on daily excursions on the ice. Look out for the emperor penguin. Is there a fledgling underneath the feathers?

Penguin in Antarctica

Heart shaped rock on Palm Beach – Crete

Discover this heart shaped rock in the shallows of Palm Beach on the Greek island of Crete. Gorge on figs, the aphrodisiacal local delicacy and sip cocktails under the palm trees to return home a healthy sun-kissed colour. Explore the many caves by snorkel or boat to pack some adventure into your romantic escape or honeymoon and relax in the spa with a joint massage and mud bath after a difficult day swinging from hammocks in the breeze.

Palm Beach in Crete, Greece

 Elephants sharing the love

Spot elephants in love embracing in the grasslands and fall asleep to the sound of hippos gurgling in the lake. With Honeymiles, watch the sunrise from one of our hot air balloon safaris over the Masai-Mara reserve. It is the best time to see the lions hunt their prey. Watch the animals from the sky, and land to a champagne breakfast, the perfect end to a romantic and peaceful honeymoon a million miles away from home.

Elephants in Love

Having a whale of a time

Visit the heart shaped island in the Vaza-Barris river of Brazil and spot the humpback whales’ heart-shaped tails close to the Abrolhos islands. Dance the intimate samba with your loved one and soak up the sun on Rio’s sexiest beaches. Catch a rainbow over the Iguazu falls on a helicopter tour, or feel the mist hit your face from Brazil’s walkway over the canyon. You will be on top of the world at Corcovado Peak.

Humpback Whale off the coast of Brazil

 Lovers Island in Croatia

Escape to Lovers Island in Croatia and explore this natural heart-shaped island in the Adriatic. Take a boat from the mainland with a bottle of champagne and delicious picnic and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of this privately-owned piece of land. Our resorts in Croatia are immersed in culture. Stroll hand in hand around the rustic town of Dubrovnik or hire a bicycle to get off the beaten track. Visit the castles and the cobbled streets of historic towns.

Love Island, Croatia

Rih Lake – Burma (meaning heart in Hindi) 

Burma’s Rih Lake may not be a perfect heart shape, but years of British colonisation altered this natural beauty to be the shape it is today. Originally believed to be a passage for souls to heaven, take your soul mate here and discover the rugged and untouched beauty that Burma has to offer. Visit via India, staying at one of our luxury hotels or take a tour of this magnificent and colourful country in absolute luxury. Make sure you visit the Taj Mahal and learn about the love story that inspired this fine piece of architecture. If you’re feeling daring, you can even spice up your love life by trying snake blood, a traditional Indian aphrodisiac.

Rih Dil Lake in Burma

Heart shaped island in Okavango Delta - Botswana

Escape to one of the last unspoiled corners of Africa for some intimate alone time. This heart shaped island in the heart of the Okavango Delta in Botswana is only visible between March and June when the swamp levels are at their highest. Take a romantic and authentic mokoro (a traditional canoe) and paddle to the island to see the Big Five in their natural habitat. Stargaze on a mobile safari or ride a quad bike through the salt pans during the dry season.

Okavango Delta, Bostwana

Trouvez l’amour en France – Find love in France

Fancy staying closer to home? Take a trip to France where you can immerse yourself in the peace and tranquillity of some of the country’s most exclusive holiday destinations. Famous for its cuisine, dine on oysters and red wine as the sun goes down over the Mediterranean. Dip your toes in the sea or climb some of France’s mountains for that extra thrill.

Corsica, France

 Image Source: Aforadio

What’s Your Favourite Destination In The World?

From a very young age I always knew I would travel the world, and at the age of 18 I flew the nest and was off on my first long haul trip on my own, Australia. Four years later I had racked up three ‘ Round The World’ travel experiences visiting destinations such as India, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Indonesia, New Zealand, Argentina and Brazil.

Upon  returning from the third trip I decided it was time to look for a career that would allow me to continue my passion for travel, so I downed my carpentry tools and at the age of 21 I started a career in the travel industry. Twenty years later I am still in the industry and still travelling as much as I can, so the one question I am frequently asked is :

 ‘Where is your favourite destination in the world’?.

A question almost impossible to answer as everywhere is unique and has its own special qualities!  However after returning this week to one place I have not been to for over twenty years I am now reminded of one of the most incredible and spectacular sights in the world, the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls.

The sheer size of Iguazu Falls is mesmerising, with 275 separate falls or drops, the highest at 82 metres, and an average of 1756 cubic metres of water flowing over the edge every second.

One exhilarating way to experience Iguazu Falls close up is to board a speedboat that takes you right up to the base of the falls. Be prepared to get very wet (swimsuits recommended!).

They look even better up close. Photo by David Pointer

There are three main areas of the falls to visit but I would recommend you visit the Devil’s Throat first. Ignore the remains of the nearby boardwalk that was swept away in 1992, it will only make you more nervous that you are about to stand right on the edge of one of the most powerful and largest waterfalls in the world!

Perfect at every glimpse. Photo by David Pointer

This was my second visit to the falls and it is more developed than my first visit back in 1991 but for the better, as there are now more vantage points available and more ways to experience the falls. Iguazu Falls it is still the most spectacular and remarkable place I have ever been.

This time though, what made this visit even more special was being able to experience it with my partner’s father who had up until this point never left his home country of Ecuador.

The expression on his face when he first saw the falls was a picture in itself, he was totally mesmerised by this natural wonder.

My partner and his dad in awe of the view. Photo by David Pointer

It is at times like this that reminds me why we are so privileged to work in such a fantastic industry, giving us the opportunity to make people’s dreams come true and organising such wonderful experiences for our clients, as well as being able to experience them for ourselves too.

Written by David Pointer, Head of Product at Western & Oriental.

Trailer & Review of ‘Rio’ – The Movie

With the imminent release of the new film Rio – from the creators of Ice Age, a holiday to the carnival city of the world, Rio de Janeiro is a must for 2011. This annual street spectacular is a must see wonder to view with your own eyes. The colours, lavish floats and Brazilian women dressed to the nines and shaking their booties is a once in a lifetime experience!

The new film is a great watch for the family and due for release on 15th April 2011, ahead of the Easter school holidays. The movie follows a rare blue macaw named Blu who is raised as a domestic pet in Minnesota. When a Brazilian zoologist convinces them to return to Rio so Blu can bond with a rare female macaw called Jewel, things don’t go to plan. After being kidnapped by poachers, the pair escape to Rio’s lush jungle. Chained together, they must make the journey home on foot meeting a few friendly characters along the way. Here is a sneak peek at Rio’s film trailer:

Of course any film that is set in Rio must include Carnival! Trust me – it will make your feet tap and yearn for a holiday to Rio de Janeiro. A perfect match for the moral of the film, which is following your instincts and overcoming your fears.

So follow your instincts and head over to see Brazil vibrant carnival city of Rio de Janeiro, the rush of the waters over the Devils’ Throat at the Iguassu Falls and to listen to the call of the exotic birds and wildlife in an amazing Amazon River cruise.

Western & Oriental Travel would like to you to join us and celebrate the release of the new movie ‘Rio’.  Save 10% on any tailor-made tour of Brazil, uniquely created for you by our Brazil travel experts who will share their first-hand knowledge and love of this vibrant country. Book during April 2011 for travel between 1 May – 30 September 2011 for this fantastic offer available on any of our Brazil holiday itineraries, or create your own!

Most Interesting Traditional Foods

Never mind fast food, here are the communities that are preserving the great old home cooked recipes.

In every holiday destination I have visited, I have noticed an ongoing theme. Nearly everywhere I have visited has a McDonald’s or a greasy kebab house on the corner of a back alley.  When I visited Egypt back in 2009, I was amazed to find a McDonald’s right in the middle of nowhere! It soon came to my attention that travellers are not always able to able to experience the real culture and local cuisine that destinations have to offer.

Whatever happened to the traditional foods that are native to each country and enjoying the delicious local cuisine on offer? Here are some interesting traditional foods which might entice you…

Mustard oil pickles, India
There are some great places to eat whilst on holiday in India. Originated in Mumbai, India, the ancient method of preserving food by making a pickle has been used for centuries. In the height of the summer when the sun was at its hottest, locals living in rural areas where food was not as accessible, used to spend days cutting vegetables and fruit for pickling. Passed down from generation to generation, families in India have perfected their own signature pickle recipes that are used to preserve and eat with delicious Indian curries. Popular pickles in India include lemon, mango, onion and the renowned chilli pickle. Many recipes include a mixture of mustard oil and ground spices to give them that authentic Indian flavour!

Chuno from Peru: one of the oldest foods in the world

The potato remains one of the most sustainable foods in the world, millions of people around the world consume tonnes of potatoes every year. However, for Andean towns in Peru, extreme temperature variations in the region can cause trouble with growing crops. However, these extreme conditions present the perfect method of preserving what would otherwise be inedible potatoes. Peru is where Chuno Blanco originates from and archaeological evidence has found in the Andes, Chuno is a 10 million year old food source.

Don’t forget to look out for Chuno potatoes on your next Peru holiday and tour. I’ve been told they are a real treat!

Guarana, Brazil
Famous for being an ingredient in soda and fruit drinks in health stores, this coffee bean sized fruit is used as a sweetener in soft drinks and energy shots. Not many people know that this tiny fruit originates from the Amazon Rainforest. Members of the Brazilian Satere-Maue tribe use an ancient technique of mashing the plant seeds into a hard bar that is used to grate on food and into drinks. These seeds are very rich in caffeine and vitamins and many tribes use them to combat fatigue and stimulate brain activity.

Guarana Berries in the Amazon Rainforest

Siwa Oasis Dates, Egypt

Founded by Alexander the Great in 330 BC, Siwa Oasis was once the most inaccessible of all Egypt’s oasis. Famous for its dates, the area boasts some 300,000 date trees which are considered some of the finest in the world. It is believed that the mineral waters of Siwa and the saline soils give Siwan dates their unique sweet taste.

Siwa Oasis Dates in Egypt

What is the most interesting traditional food you have tried?