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July 30, 2005
Tree hotel in Turkey
Another tree hotel, this one near Olympos Valley in Turkey. This seems like an especially good choice for nature lovers and adveturers. Check out these options: Canyoning at Goynuk, Canoeing, Chimera Flame Tours, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Trekking, Jeep Safari, Bike & Scooter Hire, Diving - Adrasan, Daily Boat Trip, White Water Rafting, Paragliding - Kas, Bull Bar, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Internet Cafe.
July 29, 2005
Tree Hotel in Cave Junction
I find the tree hotel intersting and though the website is fairly irritating it's worth a look. Rooms start at $100.00 although you can ask about off-season discounts. i don't know which seasons are considered peak in Cave Junction, Oregon but maybe one of you readers can tell me...
July 26, 2005
East Java, Indonesia – A Provincial Guide
A taste of Indonesia’s splendor, culture and style is what you’ll get during a visit to exotic East Java. It is one of the Indonesia’s 27 provinces.
Nestled between two world class destinations, Jogjakarta and Bali, East Java is a sparkling jewel where each mountain, temple or hotel has its own beauty to boast of. Each edifice has its own story to tell. Things not to miss when you’re in East Java:
Surabaya, East Java
1) Sample their delicacy “Kampung Ayam” or native chicken in thick coconut milk at the Pondok Tempo Dulu Restaurant.
2) Shop and tour the city. It is a bustling commercial center with world-class hotels, restaurants and shopping malls and quality transportation to accommodate tourists.
Sukapura, East Java
3) It is recommended that you stay at the Grand Bromo Hotel, because it is situated at the portal of East Java’s most magnificent tourist attraction – Mount Bromo. It is the highest mountain in the region at 2382 meters above sea level.
4) Drive to Mount Bromo’s lookout point and marvel at the sunrise greeting the three volcanoes of the Tengger massif and the vast caldera or “sand-sea.” The sand-sea is precisely what the name says it is, the sand is actually composed of volcanic ash. The formation of the caldera took place millions of years ago when a huge volcano exploded.
5) Receive blessings from a Hindu priest in Pura Agung Poten Bromo, a temple of sacred ground. As a place of worship, the poten contains several buildings and enclosures arranged in a specific composition. Special arrangements have to be made prior to entry.
6) Ride a pony to cross the great caldera of the Tengger massif.
7) Climb 200 steps to Mount Bromo’s active crater and marvel at its twin peak, Mt. Batok. Bromo’s crater that actively emits dense clouds of sulphur steam, meanwhile Batok’s sides rise in a perfect cone shape to a flat summit.
8) Offer flowers to Brahma, god of Mount Bromo, on the crater. And be awed by the spectacular view that is fit to be in the pages of National Georaphic Magazine.
Malang, East Java
9) Stay at Hotel Tugu Malang. The hotel has a vast collection of antiques that walks guests through the heritages of the Dutch colonial era, and the
gradual fusion of the Indonesian and the Chinese cultures. Each of its 49 rooms and suites are designed with individual character, some have been dedicated as tributes to the talents of Indonesian art heroes of the past.
Batu, East Java
10) Visit Kusuma Agro Wisata’s agropark and pick apples and oranges in their orchards. Batu is the “apple” capital of Indonesia.
Get to taste the Manalagi Apple. Manalagi is “give me more” in Javanese.
July 23, 2005
Houston
So I promised more on Houston. Before getting negative I would like to mention that I enjoyed the Museum of Natural History which has exhibits on gold and Lord of the Rings at the moment. These are both temporary, but the rocks and minerals collection was cool as was the stuff on Native Americans. Here's some more about Houston contributed by a reader. If you'd like to contribute some information on your hometown or a place you've visited, please send an email to jtrotta@gmail.com.
Houston has many miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. Situated on this coastline is the Galveston Island State Park. This park contains over 2,000 lush acres of coastline and forest. Included in the park's amenities is a 1700-occupancy amphitheatre, bird-watching stands, and beautiful biking and hiking trails.
"Houston, we have a problem." Tours of NASA's Houston facility, the Johnson Space Center, are available. Although access is limited to the facility, regular tram rides give you a chance to see most of the Center. Exhibits cover the history of manned space flight and exploration of the future. The special Mission Status Center provides live updates on current space flights. Also on display is a Saturn Rocket, as well as a shuttle payload bay. As yet another special attraction, the Kid's Space Place has an IMAX theatre, a full-scale model of the space shuttle, and real moon rocks that the children can hold.
Another exciting attraction for people of all ages is the Burke Baker Planetarium. As is standard in all planetariums, Burke Baker features an excellent telescope for viewing space objects of all sizes and shapes. Also featured at the planetarium are laser light shows on Friday and Saturday nights. Burke Baker Planetarium is located inside with Museum of Natural Science in Houston.
July 20, 2005
SSSS
After making a last minute reservation online for tickets from Austin to Houston on American Airlines we were going through security when some TSA guy announced that we had been chosen by the airline for extra security checks. He showed us the SSSS at the bottom of our tickets.
They gave us yellow cards, told us to go to the front of the line and hand them in. We went through metal detectors as normal, but then we got to sit down while they scanned us with the little wand thing. My wife had to take off her sneakers but my sneakers were fine.
Then they patted down our torsos (a man did me and a woman did my wife) and inspected our carry on bags by hand after they had been x-rayed. The whole thing took about 5 minutes.
When it was over one guy asked me if I had any idea why American Airlines had selected us. I wasn't sure but I said it might have been because of the last minute reservations. The TSA guy agreed, saying that was one of their conditions for extra security checks.
Oh and for more American Airlines and Texas stories, keep reading. Over the next few days I'll be telling a few more...
July 18, 2005
Grand Canyon
Here's a guest article about the Grand Canyon. Keep the articles coming to jtrotta@gmail.com!
Having visited the Grand Canyon and the Las Vegas area numerous times myself, I can testify to the fact that it is truly an enlightening experience which is both rewarding and interesting.
The Grand Canyon is more than a pit carved throughout time in the Colorado plateau. It evokes thoughts in our minds of life, living, and death. The Grand Canyon transcends time -- evades it. Visiting such a mystical and enchanting place, found on our very own American soil is a gift and a privilege.
Over five million people visit this famous landmark yearly. Of these five million, three million will visit the South Rim, 750,000 will visit the North Rim, and 800,000 will fly over this magnificent Canyon on an Air Tour.
Many types of tours of the Canyon are available for purchase. You may also visit the Canyon yourself, but you will not experience many of the breathtaking vistas and experiences granted by professional tours.
The most popular of the Grand Canyon tours are those by air. In 1967, Scenic Tours flew their first airborne Grand Canyon tour. To this day, Scenic Tours continue to serve tourists with an amazing experience which will be remembered for a lifetime. Touring aircraft are equipped with large “Vista” windows which allow for an amazing wide-angle viewing experience. Also available are helicopter tours which will allow you to get closer views, and even make stops at places unreachable by foot.
Also popular are Jeep tours which begin in the Kaibab National Forest and complete at the Grand Canyon. Many special features are included in these trips, including the ability for participants to climb a sixty-foot tall watch tower atop the ridge of the Canyon.
Another extremely popular tour are the “Mule Tours.” Ride atop the back of a Mule along the ridge of the Canyon and experience breathtaking views. One and two-day tours are currently available, starting from just over $100! Be sure to book your tour well in advance, as many travel agents report that these Mule tours are booked out over six months in advance.
A visit to the Grand Canyon is surely an experience neither you nor members of your family will forget for ages to come! Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience at an extremely affordable price. Contact your local travel agent for information on a Grand Canyon tour, or book one yourself.
July 13, 2005
Sydney, Bali
Sydney has been voted the world’s best city destination for the eighth year in a row in Travel and Leisure magazine’s annual readers’ survey, which also selected Bali as the top island. It was a fourth successive triumph for Bali, which remained the top island destination, ahead of Santorini in Italy and the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Maui.
Sydney beat out the Thai capital Bangkok, as well as Rome and Florence. Another Thai city, Chiang Mai, was voted the fifth best city. I can boast that I've been to Rome, Florence, and Bangkok (which is the order I'd rate them in by the way). I still have to get to Sydney and Ching Mai.
The Four Seasons Resort at Sayan in Bali was voted the world’s best hotel ahead of the Singita Private Game Reserve, in Sabi Sands South Africa. The Asia-Pacific region dominated the best international airline category, taking eight of the top 10 places with Singapore Airlines in the number one slot.
The results of the survey will be published in the August issue of Travel and Leisure, which is published by American Express Publishing Corp.
JAL - good and bad
Eagle, the dog I brought from Incheon to JFK via Japan Airlines is fine. He's in America, happy, healthy, and bonding with his new family. I have no idea what he went through on the flight but he survived and was acting completely normal when we got him out of the crate.
There were a few problems with Japan Airlines though. When we talked to JAL people on the phone they tols us that visiting our dog during our one night stopover in Japan would be no problem. They gave us the number for Narita Airport customs/animal quarantine and we talked to someone for ten minutes about the rules which seemed fairly clear. We could visit our dog and take him for walks but we could not leave the airport.
When we arrived in Japan, the JAL people told us customs laws did not permit us to see our dog. We argued for a while explaining what we were told on the phone and that he used to be a stray and was afraid of being abandoned. My wife cried and threatened lawsuits if he didn't make it.
Half an hour to 45 minutes later they let us see him but we couldn't take him out of the cage to walk him (The quarantine people walked him or so we were told). All in all it was very stressful so I do not think I'll be using JAL again if I can help it. This is not the first time we've gotten bad information calling the JAL information people and sometimes misinformation can add a lot of stress to your travel.
July 10, 2005
Ilocos Sur, Philippines – Visiting Old Churches
A guest article by Celine Roque. Ilocos Sur is found at the northern part of the Philippines. To get there, you can hire a shuttle driver or take a bus from Manila. It is approximately an eight hour drive. You can take an alternate route by taking a local flight from the international airport to the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte. From there, going to Ilocos Sur will take roughly a two-hour drive.
One of the primary reasons tourists come to Ilocos Sur is to marvel at the grand old churches that this province boasts of. This particular type of journey will be appreciated most by history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.
Stop one: Sta Lucia Church
This church is located in the town of Sta. Lucia. It is the only church in the province with a transept. Experts describe the dome overhead as Renaissance in style. Consoles projecting downward from the cornice make the church façade attractive. A four-storey tower with a mini-dome at the top stands to the right side of the church façade. One can also see here a statue of St. Lucy that dates back to the 19th century.
Stop two: Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church
This church is located in the town of Sta. Maria. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark on Sept. 26, 1982 and included in the World Heritage List on December 11, 1993. Because it was built on top of a hill, visitors can glimpse a panoramic view of the town, the green fields, and the blue sea. One can reach the Baroque church via an 82-step stairway. The walk is long and tiring, but the view at the end is so breathtaking, making the effort worth it.
Stop three: The Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad
This church is located in the town of Bantay. It is home “Our Lady of Charity, patroness of Nueva Segovia”. The Statue of Our Lady adorns a niche at the top section just below the ornate cornice of the church façade.
Stop four: St. Paul’s Cathedral
This church is found in the capital of Ilocos Sur, which is Vigan City. This was erected in 1574 under the order of the Spanish conquistador, Juan de Salcedo. The church stands as the center of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. A three-storey bell tower with a square base and a mini-dome at the top lies nearby.
Stop five: Simbaan a Bassit
At the end of Vigan’s Quezon Avenue stands the Simbaan a Bassit, which is actually a cemetery chapel. Rectangular columns support the church façade. It is the only one in the region having an espadaña hung with church bells.
Stop six: San Vicente Church
This church is located in the town of San Vicente. Miracles are attributed to the parish’s patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, attracting pilgrims from far and near. The church façade has two layers of columns divided by ornate architraves.
Stop seven: The Church of St. William the Hermit
One can find this church in the town of Magsingal. Experts classify this church as Baroque. It is famous for its antique wooden altar (retablo), which is still being used. The beautifully carved three-layered retablo is divided into eight niches, each occupied by a saint.
Stop eight: The Shrine of Santo Cristo Milagroso
The church itself is simple with the façade flanked by two square columns. The main attraction of the church is the statue of the crucified Christ. Every year, flocks of devotees from all over Ilocos and nearby provinces come to pay homage to the Santo Cristo Milagroso.
Visiting all the said churches may take two to three days.
July 7, 2005
Bringing your pet to a new country
Tomorrow I fly on JAL from Seoul to New York wih my Scnauzer. He's not huge, but at 20 pounds or so he's too big to sit with us and he's going in cargo. We like JAL and have had good flights with them in the past. Plus they were very confident that they could handle our dog with no problem. The man we spoke to said he's never lost a dog and that they can regulate temperature in the cargo hold. Anyway I had this article written to get me started on learning how to transport a dog safely via an international flight. I'll post more specific details in the future.
Owning a large dog can be rewarding, but when it comes to international transportation, it can be a hassle. Here are a few tips on how to prepare before, during and after travel with your pet:
Call your destination to review their pet policy and check the the airline/transport system regulations before leaving. Some countries require official USDA certification before an animal is allowed over the border. If so, have your veterinarian complete and sign a stamped form (27 dollars). Ask your vet if you have any health concerns or medication needs.
A big dog can easily overheat. Thus, many airlines won't take your pooch on a flight in summer during daytime hours in case of a delay, except flights leaving between 9 pm and 6 am. Do NOT leave the dog for more than a minute or two in the car.
Provide plenty of water, and if you don't have direct access to the dog, make sure personell can replenish it. Feed and walk them before the trip; pack just enough food to get them there.
Purchase your kennel in advance, and let the dog get used to it. It might be beneficial to take them for a few drives in the kennel so that when the day comes, they'll be prepared and may actually eagerly enter the carrier.
Bring a blanket for laying on the bed/floor to keep hair off furniture. Taking all of the dog's grooming supplies and a roller to remove fur from surfaces is a good idea.
Look into local leash laws. Try to keep your dog leashed at all times, since this will be an unfamiliar environment for them. Create a tag with your location to attach along with your pet's normal id tags.
These tips should create a safer environment for your doggie, and ease the experience for you.
Sources cited:
http://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm
http://www.lufkindailynews.com/travel/content/shared/travel/aid/packpets.html
http://www.lufkindailynews.com/travel/content/shared/travel/aid/pettravel.html
Bringing a dog to the US
If you're in a hurry, the short version is that you need to get your dog a rabies shot (and you need documentation) 30 days prior to bringing the animal to the US. Now the longer version:
The first thing a dog owner wants to do before bringing his dog to the United States is to have the dog examined thoroughly by a local veterinarian to make sure it is in good health. Although import restrictions only apply to dogs that have a disease that can be communicated to humans, subjecting an unhealthy dog to a long period of travel is simply a bad idea, and dangerous for the animal.
Quarantining a healthy dog that has lived in a rabies-free country for at least 6 months is not necessary in the mainland United States. U.S. Customs maintains a list of rabies-free countries, and the dog owner can find out from them or from a government official from their own country if the country they are arriving from is on that list. In the state of Hawaii, however, the list of rabies-free countries is much shorter, and their quarantining requirements for dogs that are from a country that is not on their rabies-free list can be as much as 120 days in a quarantine station. If certain strict requirements are met by the dog owner before and after entering the state of Hawaii, the quarantine period can be reduced to as low as 5 days. It is essential that dog owners contact the Department of Agriculture in Hawaii and learn of these requirements before traveling there with their dog.
For dogs traveling from a country that is not on the U.S. Customs rabies-free list, the owner must bring a valid certificate showing that the dog has had a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before arriving in the U.S. If the owner fails to bring a certificate, the dog must be vaccinated within 4 to 10 days after arrival and then quarantined in a facility of the owner's choice for 30 days. The same rules applies to dogs that were vaccinated less than 30 days before arriving in the U.S. - 30 days of quarantine at a facility of the owner's choice.
July 3, 2005
Banaue in the Philippines: Trekker’s Treat
Another guest entry - this one by an anonymous reader. Thank you, and keep submitting travel stories/plan/ideas to jtrotta@gmail.com
Banaue is in the province of Ifugao, which is located in the mountaenous Cordillera region of the Philippines. Because of its high altitude, Banaue is often described as "where land merges with the clouds to meet the heavens" with the rice terraces as "the stairway to the sky."
Banaue is a place for nature adventures and cultural immersion. Days are for indulging in such activities as strolling, biking, and trekking. Evenings are for campfire chats at a village or warm indoor cosseting at the lodges and inns.
Upon your arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International airport, you may opt to stay in Manila for two days to explore the city, or head straight for Banaue.
Banaue is eight to nine hours drive from Manila. It is advisable to take the bus from Manila to Banaue, because less experienced drivers may have difficulties in maneuvering in the zigzag roads.
In Banaue, there are many lodges and inns where one can stay. Your most appealing option is to stay in the Banaue Hotel, which provides a good view of the Banaue Rice Terraces.
Stop one: Viewpoint
It is located four kilometers north from the townproper. This is a perfect spot on top of a plateau for taking pictures of the rice terraces with much larger and deeper magnitude. One also has the option to trek the rice terraces from here. It will take you two to three hours to trek one of the pyramid-styled rice terraces.
Stop two: Guihob Natural Pool
It is located four kilometers east from the townproper. This is ideal for a cool, refreshing swim in crystal-clear spring water coming from a small waterfall. But one has to hop and jump over huge boulders to reach this place.
Stop three: Batad Village
You will need one whole day to visit the village of Batad. It is located 16 kilometers from the town proper. 12 kilometers of the way can be traveled by tricycle, car or jeepney, but one has to walk the rest of the distance on mountain trails. The hike will be approximately two hours. If you want to see the beautiful cascading waterfalls called Tappiyah, you will need another hour of hiking.
Stop four: Tam-an Village
This typical village is located approximately 300 steps from the Banaue Hotel. Interesting to see here are the locals who still practice the lifestyle of their ancestors. You may even see the bones of their ancestors that are preserved and bundled in handwoven cloth.
Alternative:
If you’re really in for an adventure, you can scale Mount Amuyao. It is the 8th highest peak in the Philippines with an elevation of 2,702 meters above sea level. It is located between the boundary of Banaue and Mayoyao, which is 41 kilometers from the townproper. Its summit provides a climber with a breathtaking panorama of the Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao.
Tourist guides and travel assistance can be found in the townproper, near the municipal hall.