travel Archives - Page 3 of 14

Karachi, and its unparalleled beauty

September 10, 2018 by Mandy

Founded as the village of college, in the beginning, the capital of Sindh (a province in Pakistan), is the most populous city in the nation. Population drastically increased after the arrival of the East India company. It even ranks as the sixth most populous city in the world. But the city also ranks as one of Pakistan’s premier financial and industrial hubs. In short, it is the nation’s cosmopolitan city. But that’s not all, as Karachi, located on the Arabian Sea also is an important transport hub with two of the country’s largest seaports- namely Port Bin Qasim and Port of Karachi. On the social front, Karachi is an ethnically diverse nation and this city of lights, once upon a time used to boast of an amazing nightlife.

If you want to explore this city for yourself, then you can get in through the city’s Jinnah International Airport which serves both domestic and international flights. There are non stop destinations throughout the world and so availing tickets, especially the cheapest Dubai to Karachi flights, the Cairo to Karachi or the Singapore to Karachi flights and more so is not difficult if you are doing the prior booking.

So now that you are here, let’s explore Karachi:

Take a look at Asia’s Largest Cross: Located in the sole working Christian cemetery in Karachi called Gora Qabristan Cemetery, this 140-foottall bulletproof cross is the result of a dream that came to Parvez Henry Gill. But the project almost didn’t come to fruition once the workers came to know what the structure actually was. Yet many stuck through and the ultimate result was a collaboration of Christian and Muslim communal efforts.
Visit Mazar-e-Quaid: In this mausoleum lies the remains of the founder of the nation- Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The structure is a blend of simple and yet striking. The building is lined with striking fountains which provides a serene aura to the place. The mausoleum also contains the remains of his sister Fatima Jinnah who was known as the mother of the nation as well as of Liaquat Ali Khan, who was Pakistan’s first Prime Minister.
Visit Mumtaz Begum: This is a half woman, half fox figure which tells stories from her cage in a Pakistani zoo for over four decades. The truth is actually that, it is a performer Murad Ali, who inherited the role from his father. So, if you want your fortune told by a famous charlatan, peep in here then.
Show your debating skills at Karachi Press Club: This has been around from 1958 as it was formed by a group of journalists in a Victorian manor. The club acts as the base of Pakistan’s first press club and is the ideal place for intense discussion and debate. From that small group of journalists, it now has about 1000members who promote Democratic ideals. There’s a chess room, a press conference room, bar and library in the KPC. This is one place for the free thinker and where various revolutionary ideas were born into. How to get an invitation in here? Simple, just convince them of your debating prowess.

Karachi is a land besotted with people who are stuck in between the old and the new, a land as old as time and its traditions are spiritual as well. If you would like a truly unique experience, then this is the place to head into.

Volunteering Abroad as a Family

September 4, 2018 by Mandy

Organising a family holiday is increasing in ease, as a result, families are wanting more than just laying on a beach, are looking at volunteering abroad as an alternative holiday option.

Benefits for the family

Volunteering requires team work and communication. Working side by side opens up opportunities for your family to strengthen their bonds.

Work lives are often a mystery to children, they don’t get the chance to see their parents working and likewise for the parents getting to see their children learning. Volunteering lets kids and parents see each other in a different light.

Benefits for the community served

The community benefits enormously from volunteers completing a range of vital services which help with development.

Benefits for the children

‘Outdoor Classroom’ is a term which is thrown around when talking about travelling abroad with kids, because it is true! Children learn from travelling and even more by volunteering. There’s no better way to learn about another culture than embedding yourself in it, socialising with locals and experiencing it all first hand.

Volunteer work has almost become a requirement for college and job applications. Introducing children at a younger age will give them confidence to volunteer again once they’re older, perhaps taking more of a leadership role, as they would have already pushed their comfort zones.

Children can involve themselves in volunteering as much as they want to.

Volunteering on teaching programmes, helping assist the class or sitting in the class and learning with the local children.

Even on building programmes children can help by measuring, mixing and painting.

While volunteering is a feasible and exciting holiday option, many parents are still unsure how to organise a volunteering abroad trip. Here are some helpful tips.

Be positive!

Children regularly mirror their parents’ emotions, if you aren’t excited about volunteering abroad, why should your children be?

Explain to your kids what your family will be doing abroad and how they will be helping, so that they know what to expect.

Plan ahead of time!

Typically, when travelling you can go with the flow and plan as you go, unfortunately, it’s not that simple with kids.

Some hotels, hostels and guest houses only accept 18 years old and older. The same goes for volunteering programmes. Check ahead of time who can volunteer and where you are going to be staying.

Organisations can help!

Volunteering organisations are experienced and can make volunteering easy.

Organisations have advisors and a pre-departure team, who can run through any questions about volunteering. They should also be able to help with flights, visas and organise an airport pick-up. Supported programmes will also offer support whilst volunteering in the form of group leaders and project coordinators. Help X and Teach Away are other popular sites.

Involve Kids in The Preparation

Kids love to be involved in organising family trips and planning what to do. Prepare arts and craft activities for volunteering and shop for materials to take with you.

Prepare their Little Legs

Little legs get tired quickly. Check with your volunteering programme how much walking is involved.

Prepare your little ones for longer and more active days by talking them on longer walks at home before you travel.

Eat In

Ask your volunteer programme or host if your family will have access to a kitchen, this will make eating easier and will also help you save money, as you won’t have the costs of eating out at restaurants.

Eating in doesn’t mean you can’t introduce your little ones to the local cuisine, you could ask at a shop for a local recipe and get the food in.

Introduce your children to the world of opportunities out there, it could be the making of them, your family and the community they help!

Holidays In London

August 31, 2018 by Mandy

The first thing to check before we plan for our holidays is the best months to visit a certain country. Thanks to the availability of internet, we can easily type and googled to check on the best months to visit the country of our choice so that we can book the flight tickets earlier to take advantage of cheaper rates offered. Those that planned their holidays well ahead of time will get to enjoy much cheaper air flight tickets.

Checking on the best months to visit will help us avoid visiting during the raining seasons which will be very inconvenient for tourists to move around without getting wet. Some months are extremely hot in certain countries and it will be too hot for tourists to be able to enjoy the outdoor tours and sightseeing. Through the search on the internet, we can also pack the right type of clothing for our holidays according to the type of weather during our visit.

Take for example, from the search on the internet, it is revealed that the best months to visit London would be from March to May or from April to September for the better weather and events. The peak time will be from April to September, and large crowd is expected and of course, the hotel rates will be higher. For example, if one is travelling from Dubai to London, booking one of the earlier flights from Dubai to London will be advisable to get cheaper rate if you are planning to visit London during the peak season.

If you are planning to make a stop to visit Dubai before flying over to London from Dubai, you can register for a Tajawal account with Tajawal.ea website in order to book flights from Dubai to London. In order not to miss out on good discounts or good offers by Tajawal, you are encouraged to check out their offer pages for good discounts before booking your flight to London. Many tourists prefer to make a stop at Dubai for a short visit before continuing their flight to London, after all, the flight from Dubai to London takes only about 2 hours.

Your Norway Northern Lights Vacation

August 15, 2018 by Mandy

The natural phenomenon called Aurora Borealus or Polar Lights can be observed in both Arctic and Antarctic regions in a number of places around the world. It usually happens in the night sky, and the different color lights look phenomenal against the dark background. Interestingly, Northern Lights are a type of Aurora Borealis which happen near the North Pole. Apart from countries like Canada or Scotland, Northern Lights in Norway, and other Scandinavian countries also offer grand, life-altering experiences, which usually feature as a bucket list activity. No wonder, people travel far and wide to witness it. Read on to know more about places where you can observe Northern Lights in Norway.

1. Svalbard

There isn’t much North left further than Svalbard. This Arctic island is between the 74th and 81st parallel and is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the surreal Northern Lights. A lot of people also come to see the Polar Night, a period between mid-November and early January, when Svalbard does not see daylight and is in a permanent state of spooky blue twilight.

2. The Lofoten Islands

In the Norwegian Sea, way above the circle that marks the Arctic region, the Lofoten offer another great abode to not just see the green shimmers of the Northern Lights but also hear their unreal sounds. In the more conventional viewing places such as Scotland and Northern Canada, the sounds of the Aurora are often lost in the din of civilisation. Not so with Lofoten. You can also bring out your cameras for brilliant shots of the Lights being reflected off the water on beaches of Flakstadøy and Vestvågøy here.

3. Trondheim

Don’t want to leave civilization? Go to Trondheim. Besides being known as the quintessential university town with excellent Norwegian food and culture (especially that of bicycles), Trondheim is also one place where you can enjoy the great Northern Lights show. Again, it is completely possible to view the Lights from within the city limits. However, the brightness and contrast of the colors increase the further away from the city you go.

4. Tromso

The town of Tromso is often called the capital of the Arctic area, and because about 217 miles into the Arctic, it offers one of the best opportunities to experience the freaky and beautiful Northern Lights. The biggest city in the northern regions of Norway, there are plenty of northern lights camps and safaris that depart from here. Things like dog sledding and snowmobile rides are also popular here.

5. Alta

The city of Alta is located between mountain peaks and is shielded from the harsh cold that many of the coastal cities on this list experience. Its extreme northern latitude also makes it one of the prime locations for viewing the Lights. Also, the mountain peaks on the horizon provide a spectacular contrast making for some really gorgeous snaps of the Lights and the mountains.

If you too wish to witness the natural wonder of Northern Lights, Norway is the perfect country for that. So, when are you planning your trip?

Five Star Vacation Rentals on Big Bear Events

July 28, 2018 by Mandy

Big Bear is a beautiful community in Southern California. For Maria Cobb Newport Beach is nice, but Big Bear is even nicer. As a couple, Kevin and Maria Cobb wanted to share their love of this beautiful area with others, so they went into the vacation rentals business. Specifically, the founded Five Star Vacation Rentals, through which they now offer numerous properties, perfect for a family vacation. Judging by each review and rating that their properties have received in the Big Bear area, it seems people agree that this is one of the best places in the world to spend some leisure time in.

Five Star Vacation Rentals and Big Bear

Big Bear is the perfect vacation spot for the entire family since there is something to do for everybody. In fact, it is even a pet friendly place to go. There are beautiful forests, hiking trails, lakes, and more. In the summer, people can enjoy the alpine lake, which is always in pristine condition, clear blue skies, and cool pine forests. It is a truly unique location, perfect for those who want to go off the beaten path, but equally for those who want to do what everybody else does.

One of the great things about Big Bear is that there are always things to do as well. Hence, for those who prefer vacationing according to an itinerary, or those who have children who bore easily if they aren’t entertained in an organized manner, there are plenty of things to keep them occupied as well. Just some examples include:

A farmers market, regularly held at the Big Bear Lake Convention Center, a lovely place to visit even if the market isn’t on.
Country Nights and other musical nights, often held at the Cave. This is an opportunity to see multiple bands, often with local music.
The Rose Parade and everything that comes before that. For instance, in the middle of July, Big Bear will have the Big Reveal, whereby the community can see this year’s float. This is usually held at the PAC.
Theater projects, also often held at the PAC. This an opportunity to see existing and up and coming theater groups deliver their art.
Animal projects at the Bear Valley Farms. Goat Yoga is one example of an event regularly held here.
Chili Cook Offs, which are usually held at the Bartlett Events Area. Most of the time, cook off events are free for the whole family, making it an even better day out.
The Renaissance faire and other such events, which are held in Fawnskin and tend to be yearly events.

These are just some examples of the fantastic entertainment opportunities that Big Bear has to offer. Clearly, regardless of who goes and with how many people, it is impossible to be truly bored in Big Bear. And add to that a vacation rental with the best review and rating you can come across, and it quickly becomes clear why this area is so popular.