Tag: "Cultural Tours"

Best ways to spend a Bali holiday

Exotic Bali consistently receives plaudits as one of the world’s favourite island destinations, and for good reason. The beautiful island lies just south of the equator and is home to majestic mountains, lush rainforest, and amazingly friendly people. The Indonesian island offers cultural attractions and spectacular scenery that cannot be duplicated anywhere on earth. With so much to see and do in Bali, visitors with limited time there must plan their Bali holidays strategically.

Bali: A Cultural Smorgasbord
While the Kuta region of Bali provides some lively tourist action with its assortment of shops and restaurants, Bali’s Ubud region is commonly known as the island’s cultural capital. Ubud located in central Bali is famous for its performing arts. Unique cultural dances of the Balinese are both expressive and beautifully performed. Traditionally, Balinese dancers performed for a variety of occasions to include social events and ceremonies. Today, they adapt their storytelling dances for tourist audiences. To make the most of their Bali holidays, visitors often pair Balinese dance shows with amazing dinners like the tasty culinary fare found at Café Lotus. This restaurant features a wide range of Indonesian and Western-styled entrées likely to please the entire dinner party.

The Traditional Dress of a Balinese Dancer

Bali is known as the “Island of Love,” and its one-of-a-kind scenery makes it an exquisite place for wedding parties. The Tegenungan waterfall is a great place to visit while on a Bali honeymoon. The free flowing waterfall surrounded by lush tropical foliage drops into an aquamarine lagoon making it the perfect photo opportunity for couples on a Bali honeymoon.

Tegenungan

Agriculture is a huge part of the Bali culture, and the way Balinese farmers cultivate their rice fields exhibits this fact. The rice terraces of Jatiwulih in western Bali are a tribute to excellent farming techniques united with a keen sense of environmental stewardship. For instance, local Jatiwulih farmers designed and constructed a communal water system to irrigate the verdant rice fields contoured to prevent soil erosion.

Bali Rice Terraces

Bali Adventure Holiday
One of the best ways to see Bali up close and personal is by bike. Mountain biking tours are available for couples who want to take an authentic journey of the island while on their Bali honeymoon. These adventure tours are not for the faint of heart. However, those up to the physical challenge may see stunning views of the Bali countryside, rice fields, and quaint villages.

No Bali holiday would be complete without a visit to one of its breathtaking beaches, and there are many from which to choose. The island uniquely is home to white, black, and golden sand beaches. The quintessentially tropical, white sand beaches are by far the most popular ones visited by those on their Bali holiday. However, the black sand beaches offer a rare contrast set against the backdrop of a turquoise ocean. Additionally, the Nusa Dua region provides visitors an ideal snorkelling spot. Nusa Dua is also known for its ultra luxury accommodations that have the relaxing amenities required by visitors maximising their time while in Bali.

A Bali Beach

Lorraine Kelly Visits India – Read our exclusive Q&A about her travels

The wonderful Lorraine Kelly recently travelled with Western & Oriental to India, spotting tigers and visiting the unspoilt and majestic Western Ghats. We were able to catch up with Lorraine and ask her about the sorts of holidays that she enjoys. Read our Q&A with Lorraine Kelly below:

 What elements of a holiday score highly with you?

I love a holiday where I feel I really get a sense of the place I am visiting – the culture, food and the people. I love to see all the sights and I always read as much as possible before hand.

Enjoying a refreshment before the game drive

Do you prefer to have a multi-centre holiday combining wildlife/adventures with city and beaches or are you more of a fly and flop traveller?

I am not at all a fly and flop holidaymaker. Although it would be relaxing for a day or two, I would soon get a bit bored just lounging around on the beach or by the pool.

Royal Bengal Tiger

What attracted you to India’s wildlife experiences and did you see the animals you hoped to?

I love combining holidays like wildlife safaris and adventures with a city and beaches.

Searching for the Bengal Tiger

Sunset at the Gateway of India in Mumbai

Any unexpected wildlife sightings?

I love India, my brother has worked in Mumbai and I had such a terrific visit there two years ago. It’s an incredible city.  I really wanted to come back to India to see tigers in the wild. We were lucky enough to see three wild tigers. It was an experience I will never forget, truly incredible.

On the lookout for the tigers

Tea plantations in the Western Ghats

You travelled to the little known Western Ghats, what attracted you to that area and did it match your expectations?

I was intrigued by the Western Ghats because it is a part of the world that is known as the Scotland  of India. I can see what they mean. It’s green, misty and magical. The scenery is glorious and I felt very much at home.

The pool with panoramic views at Vivanta by Taj at Madikeri

You stayed at the new Vivanta by Madikeri at Coorg – did you take advantage of the spa and have any Ayurvedic massages? Or did you enjoy the great views, do any walks or other activities?

The new Vivanta by Taj Madikeri, Coorg is a beautiful retreat. It has been so cleverly designed to blend in with the scenery and it is such a relaxing haven as well as being a place where you are thoroughly spoiled.

The first thing we did was a nature walk after the car journey, which was fascinating and gave a real insight into the area. The views, especially from the infinity pools are stunning and the food, especially local Coorg cuisine was fantastic. I needed those nature walks and swims to work it off.

There’s also a spa where you can can Ayurvedic massages and treatments specially designed just for you.

A room with a view at Vivanta by Taj at Madikeri, Coorg

Where would you like to go next – any dream destinations?

I’d love to go to Antarctica and to Vladivostok and I am hoping to visit New Zealand.

Thank you for your time Lorraine! To read the full article about Lorraine’s search for the Bengal Tiger click here.

Learn to love lions & donate to win!

The magnificent new film The Last Lions has its UK premier on Nat Geo Wild on Sunday 19 February 2012 at 9pm (repeated on Monday 20 February 2012 at 4pm and Friday 24 February 2012 at 10pm). National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert have filmed this epic documentary on location at Duba Plains in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, it tells the story of a lioness struggling to protect her cubs.

Some may be alarmed to learn that the current statistics on the lion populations have dwindled from an estimated 400,000 in the 1940’s to as few as 20,000 animals today.  The factors surrounding this decline range from loss of habitat, burgeoning human populations as well as human conflict.

The Big Cats Initiative is a worthy program that supports conservation and education projects and is essentially a global awareness campaign to halt this steady decline and highlight why these magnificent creatures are so vital to the ecosystem.

Delight in watching this film and show your support by making a donation to the National Geographic Big Cats Initiative, however small, to play your part in this essential protection of wildlife.  Send us proof of your donation (such as your donation confirmation to alison@rainbowtours.co.uk) and we will enter you into our prize draw.  The top prize is a personally signed book by Beverly and Dereck Joubert the filmmakers, called Eye of the Leopard.  There are also runner up prizes of various National Geographic DVD’s.

The draw will take place on 30^th March 2012 at 4pm. Winners will be notified by email within 5 days of the draw taking place.

Watch the trailer below and remember all the proceeds of this film are put back into conserving these big cats through the work of various projects supported by National Geographic Big Cats Initiative.

Good luck and happy viewing!

See the world in under 5 minutes – with 6237 photographs

Fancy speeding around the world in under 5 minutes? Kien Lam, a keen photographer, has made this possible with his stunning time-lapse video taken whilst spending nearly a year adventuring around the world on a journey that took him through 17 different countries over 343 days. Whilst doing so, he took 6,237 photographs which he has pieced together as several beautiful fast-paced montages.

Kien wanted to capture the spirit of his journey and took time-lapse photos at every city that he travelled to. Each two-second scene comprises approximately 40-60 photographs.

The countries showcased within the video and on his 25,000 mile journey include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Egypt, England, France, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and the United States. Kien also visited popular landmarks such as Stonehenge, the Louvre, Times Square, Mt. Sinai, Pier 39 and the Alhambra. He rode on 58 buses, 18 boats and 19 airplanes over the course of the entire trip.

Which of these cities will you be putting onto your list of places to visit? Watch the video here:

CLOSED: Enter Our Family Photo Competition

We are pleased to announce the winners of our photo competition:

Grand Prize-Kenny Mackie

My son building sandcastle on Balmedie Beach, Aberdee. Uploaded by Kenny Mackie

Runner-up – Lorna Garratt

A fun day out with my family visiting the local sights. Uploaded by Lorna Garratt

Runner-up – Krisztina  Lencses

Me and my family enjoyed a few days in a beautiful place in the Easter holidays. Uploaded by Krisztina Lencses

Congratulations our winners and thanks to everyone for your participation!

CLOSED: Win an 8 night family holiday for four to amazing Thailand

Thailand is the ideal location for a fun-filled, active and cultural luxury family holiday with plenty to do for children (and parents!) of all ages, and Western & Oriental have teamed up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Four Seasons Resorts and Thai Airways to bring you an exciting photo competition for your chance to win a first prize of an outstanding family holiday! The prize includes four nights stay at the 5* Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai and four nights at the 5* Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui for two adults and two children, including flights with Thai Airways. Two runners up will each win a special prize from one of our family specialist partners.

How To Enter?

For your chance to win, enter our photo competition by emailing us your best family holiday photos to blog@wandotravel.com  and include your name, address, telephone number and a description of your family photo. You can send us anything from the kids building sand castles, splashing in the pool, to photos of you all trekking through a jungle or even riding on camels. The list is endless! We will then upload your photos here and onto our Facebook page so that you can view your photo along side other pictures in the competition.

Western & Oriental and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will choose the best family holiday photos and announce the winners within seven days of the closing date of the competition. The competition closes at 16:00 GMT on 18th November 2011; open to UK and Eire residents only. Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply (see below). Good luck!

View our latest competition photos below & good luck!

My son Andrew spots me taking his picture as he watches the ocean.Uploaded by Charlotte Norman

 

My wife and son Christopher swing across the adventure canyon in the hot sun. Uploaded by Michael Mayer

 

My nephew steven enjoys the bouncy ball course on a breezy afternoon. Uploaded by Sarah O'Neill

 

My three kids leading each other to the shoreline for a look at the waves. Uploaded by Edwin Lee.

 

The most spectacular sunset. Mavisehir, Didim. Turkey. Uploaded by Catherine Simms

 

MY TWO LOVELY BOYS ARE JOINED AT THE HIP AND LOVED PLAYING TOGETHER ON OURHOLIDAY TO SHARM IN EGYPT. Uploaded by Hazel Anna Rigazio

 

This was our last family holiday together good times. Uploaded by Wendy Dalby

 

When we went to the wizarding world of harry potter this summer we just had to stop for some butterbeer. It was delicious.Uploaded by Britnee Hager

 

Me and my children infront of the beach on an evening...whilst the sun was setting. Uploaded by Carla Morris.

 

This picture of my daughter, her friend and my son was taken when the fair travelled into our hometown of Bexhill. Uploaded by Carrie Hanrahan

 

Here is me, mum and my 7 year old son Rhys. We had a fantastic time in Euro Disney and this picture proves you are never too old for the magic Disney offers.Uploaded by Lisa Williams

 

Have fun in Florida with the Dolphins. Uploaded by Ryan Turner.

 

This was taken a few weeks back on the Island of Dominica where my sister in now studying medicine at Ross University School of Medicine. It was taken in Portsmouth, Dominica on our last night together as a family.Uploaded by Sumeet Sharma.

 

At Gatorland in Florida. Uploaded by Glenn Hutton

 

Our 1st trip to the beach, he wasnt too keen on the pebbles but loved the sea. Uploaded by Suneil Bhatia

 

My daughter having fun on the beach. Uploaded by Luisa Connor.

 

This is me and my family swimming with dolphins in Florida a coupld of years ago. It was amazing, even if it was freezing that day! Uploaded by Samantha Byrne

 

Having time of our life on our California holiday and visit in Universal Studios LA!!. Uploaded by Michaela Williams

 

Alice and Lucy enjoying the sunset in Naples, Florida, and watching the Pelicans fly to roost at the pier.

 

My girlfriend feeding the elephants at a waterfall in Koh Samui.Uploaded by Feargal Norton

Having Fun with the Penguins! Uploaded by Mya Turner

My son meets a dolphin. By Lena Payne.

My little girl is flying a kite on her own for the first time. Uploaded by Lena Payne.

My children are having fun together at the beach. Uploaded by Lena Payne.

Elephant Numbers Grow in Sri Lanka

The first national survey of Sri Lanka’s wild elephants revealed that the elephant population is at 5,879, previously estimated at 5,350. Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena told a press conference that out of these this number, 1,107 were accounted as calves and 122 tuskers.

Wild Elephants in Sri Lanka

The national survey was conducted by using a method known as the “water hole count”. There were approximately 4,000 wildlife workers, villagers and farmers who were deployed for three days at more than 1,500 locations across Sri Lanka to count the elephants as they came to water holes for a drink.

In the early 1900s, there were an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 elephants that roamed Sri Lanka, but since then, poaching and the loss of habitat due to deforestation for agriculture have taken their toll. Locals are often faced with the dangers of wild elephants entering villages and charging through houses in search of food and destroying crops on farms.

Wildlife Department Director General H.D. Ratnayake said, “This statistic shows that Sri Lanka’s elephants are in good health and that their population is growing.”

Elephants bathing in the Maha Oya River at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka

If you’re planning on visiting Sri Lanka to see some of these stunning mammals up close, a visit to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is highly recommended. Established in 1975 with seven orphans, and now one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist sites, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is also a conservation and educational centre, supported by local and international experts with a scientific captive breeding programme. The nearby Maha Oya River is an important setting and a must-see for the daily bathing and play session before the elephants return to the orphanage with the expert guides.

Source: The Guardian